Mon Matu

 

Mon Matu

As you exit the WalMart you see standing next to Dolly a figure in a hooded black robe, stroking her feathered neck. A scaly tail protrudes from a hole in the back of the near pitch black robe. Traces of unrecognizable characters shoot downward on the robe for several inches then emit a bright light as they are extinguished. 

"Do not be afraid." A male voice says in perfect American English. "My name is Mon Matu, and I am a Crystal Warden. I have come here from my Starship which orbits your planet, split into two parts." He points to the sky to the two asteroids orbiting overhead. 

He continues. "My Ship is a prisoner transport that was travelling from distant worlds to our prison planet when a powerful prisoner was somehow released from his stasis. The prisoner released other dangerous passengers and soon our ship was being overrun by all types of dangerous galactic criminals. In the last moments before we were overrun entirely, we enacted our ships failsafe protocol which placed our entire ship into stasis.

"I am unsure how many years passed before your planet struck my starship with your weapons of war.    The Stasis engine was destroyed and the battle continued immediately where it had left off as our ship began to separate in two." We were able to bring low the criminals that had made it to our control room, their reinforcements cut off from them. We are certain all the Crystal Wardens that are on the ship half controlled by our enemy are dead, or possibly worse."

"The Crystal Vaults were our largest chambers separating the crew chambers and control decks from the prisoner stasis decks. The Crystals themselves are the manifest abilities of powerful Galactic Criminals drained from them in transit to our prison world. The blasts from your weapons hurled many of them toward your planet. We were able to use our remaining power to stop our ship from plummeting into your planet, and one last pulse of tractor beam to keep the other portion of our ship from the same fate."

"Our ships communications and navigations systems are destroyed, and your planet lacks the technology or materials to repair it. Our Chief Engineer was working in the prisoner stasis decks when the battle started, his assistant was the one who alerted us to the siege, so I can only assume Mandisi was slain." 

"The crystal matrix is destroyed, which drained the abilities from prisoners and manifested them into the same crystals you are familiar with."

"We lack the man power to overtake the other ship half. A very powerful villain has taken up residence and he has sent his allies to your planet to gain the strength to defeat us finally and gain access to our Star Charts." 

+

World of Ortha; Zari's journal.

Zari Iso

-         So I decided to start this journal to collect my thoughts. I must remember to try and be honest with myself while I write this, but realizing I probably will not, just know if you ever get ahold of this book it is probably laden with lies and tales of fancy. I never really steal anything, just think about it.

-         The first thing I want to go over is a history about me. I am from a small town outside of Cabaea, called _____Town 1_______. I was born as the youngest of 25, (there were only 8 at home at most while I lived there) which meant I was given all the attention, and that is basically how I like it.

-         Mother and I used to spend lots of time together, she would teach me to sow dresses and I would parade around in her dresses and pretend I was a princess. She passed away about 10 years ago… a few centuries old… from a normal cold. That is always a problem with Gepardi, we have weak constitutions because of the methods of the Elves who created my people from normal Catfolk. Weak constitutions, and weak willpower. Made us better slaves, I guess… Papa told me they used to make Gepardi taste meals before they ate, and walk into rooms before them. What a horrible way to treat people… but one thing they did do for us, they made us fast. Like really freaking fast. They used us for messengers back in the day, sometimes relaying things through magic was unsafe, and not every elf was a Wizard.

-         So Papa, he is a baker. He has been baking for so long that I am pretty sure he can do his daily routine with his eyes closed. He has really sunk himself into his work since Mother died. I went in to assist him, but the food was so good I began eating it. He scolded me, so began stealing it, at first with various degrees of success, but I became so good at pocketing treats father was oblivious to all the sweet delight I was enjoying. I have been stealing his baked good from under his nose for years now, and he thinks I stopped years ago haha.

Sullivan

-         Sullivan has been there helping him all along. Which is fortunate for me, because with all the free time I have had, Sulli taught me how to fight. Sulli isn’t a Gepardi, he is catfolk, but a large catfolk… very powerful as well as graceful. He started with some simple self defense tricks, then as I turned 16 he bought me my first rapier and taught me fencing. Bonetti’s Defense which helps in rocky terrain, Capa Ferro, Thibault which cancels Capa Ferro, Agrippa… which I have all studied.

-         So when I was 18, father was sick, and he let me go into the capital with Sullivan and deliver his baked goods. I was amazed… it was like nothing I had ever seen. We went to a great house that was as big as my village and I was immediately in love. The doorman opened the door and Sullivan carried a large crate with ease, while I carried a tray with some difficulty. The doorman saw me straining, and took the tray easily from me. He led the way, Sulli and I in tow. We walked by beautiful works of art, statuettes, and into a large banquet hall that was filled with dozens of beautifully dressed humans, dancing and spinning. I gawked, and then I felt the doorman grab me… “You should not linger, kitty.” “Please take your hands off of her.” Sulli said with a hint of anger in his voice. The doorman responded with, “What are you going to do about it?” I looked at the doorman as he stood tall to Sulli. Both were about the same height, but Sulli had him by 50 pounds at least. Then I began to notice things. The doormans pocketwatch. His bracelet. His rings. The rings on the fingers of the Guests, their earrings. I took inventory of each one individually, processing which shiny object I liked the most. Sulli grabbed me and we left the manor house. As I rode in the back of the cart, I pulled out the pocketwatch and stared at it. I wanted more.

-         I began going on every trip into town and learning to act and dress in a way that would gain me more access into the world I wanted to be a part of. Some human men I crossed paths with were very interested in me. They said nice things to me and told me I was exotic, and wanted to see me. They looked well off, so I followed them to a tavern. When I got there, all they did was ask me rude questions and get drunk. I was appalled that they would act like this. So I took all of their money. Not some, all. I had sown hidden pockets into my dresses where I could collect items and keep them invisible. Then I left. I bought more elegant fabrics and made more dresses, and one time in town I tried on a wig and liked it. Red hair suited me. I remember looking in the mirror and remembering the banquet hall Sulli had taken me to.

-         I made a living like this, and while doing so I got to hear many stories from Adventurers in the taverns I frequented. I would look at my 20 gold pieces and see their lumbering bags packed with gold pieces. So I offered to go along with them when they said they needed someone to help, and to my surprise they accepted. The thrill of adventure coursed all over my body, and I said I would go for no charge. It was a few week journey and I had the time of my life. There was another in the party who said she was a Thief by trade, and I stuck with her. She taught me how to lockpick, which I picked up very easily, and where to strike opponents for the best results. Then the ambush happened, and I actually had to use my fencing skills to stay alive. I thought I would be afraid, but I actually was very confident as I dispatched the Goblins. It was a rush like no other I have ever felt. The party leader, a fighter, threw a bag of gold to me, and in it was 10 gold. The fight only lasted for 2 minutes! It took me half a night to worm that amount out of the men at the tavern. The rogue ended up having a disagreement and left the group and I worked with them for a few more months on different adventures.

-         I learned much during those adventures and returned home with 300 gold pieces!  Sulli and my father were glad to see me alive, and I dropped it on them I would be moving into Cabaea into a cheap apartment there. I took very little of my things, said goodbye to my siblings, and made my first step towards my goal of being the wealthiest Gepardi in history.

-         One day, I saw there was going to be a Court at the place Sulli had taken me to years ago. I got into my best dress and made it to the door, to the doorman that I stole from years ago. It took me only a moment, a few words, and a smile, and I was in. He did not even recognize me. While I was there, moving about the women and men, I suddenly saw the Thief who taught me how to pick locks on my first adventure. She was dressed very nice, and I could tell she was actively pickpocketing people. Realizing this might ruin my chances of being with the elite, I found a man and turned her in. The man’s name was Armakh, and he was a court wizard to King Niuso Ventusep of Cabaea. He asked me how I knew she had stolen items, I replied that I was an Adventurer as well, and I always had a knack for watching people and spotting unusual things. He said he was grateful and asked me to come to his estate the next morning.

-         When I got there, I was amazed how beautiful his house was. Then he began telling me he needed me for a mission, that he would pay me very well for completing. There was this vault, and this man looking for it, who was hiring help. Armakh wanted to report back to him any information that I could get pertaining to it. I thought that was simple enough and accepted. I could get information out of people, easily, so this should be quick and painless.

-         So that is where I am now. I have just signed on with this man, Roman, to get information on this vault. Vault just sounds nice and filled with shiny objects and loot.

Zari in Dress

-         This has been a very busy day… so I was in the town of Leppo in the Golden Goat. I had been waiting for Roman and being friendly, casing the place for loot and a chance to practice my Pick-pocketing. In comes this Hunter-looking half elf, who orders a beer and sits in the room. He seems poor enough, so I leave him. Then I see another gentleman, looking sad and pale, at a table by himself. I try to cheer him up, and case him for loot, but he doesn’t allow me to get too close. I bought him a beer to see if that would ease him up. Then I went over to another half-elf, some gent dressed in plain clothes but bearing books, meaning he probably has some money somehow. I introduce myself and learned he was a non-wizard spell-caster by the name of Magnus.  I was anxious to get on with this mission, so I decided to be more forceful and try to do Roman’s job, with less knowledge and more making things up as I moved my mouth. Then Roman finally arrived, and just after that a Fully Armored Dwarf came in. Roman might have mentioned something about Dwarf we were supposed to meet, but honestly I had both hands inside of the pocket of the guy sitting back to back behind me and could care less about those details. Anyway, there was more talking, and soon I was at the side of the Hunter (he was focused on the Dwarf and I was able to sneak up on him… which I don’t think will happen again anytime soon) trying to get him to join our group. After all, he did have a pack with adventuring type gear within. Then Roman appeared to notice the man I had spoken to earlier, and that man quickly tried to exit the tavern when Melkor (the hunter) grabbed him and sat him down in front of Roman. I guessed Melkor was in at that point, which was good. Seeing everyone letting their guard down and an understanding that I no longer needed to act, I pocketed an empty vial and a ring of iron keys off of the man, who we found was named Silas. They let him go, and he ran out of the door and away. Afterwards, as the group was discussing whatever, these loud bells went off in town, the last time they went off I remembered bad things happening. I quickly dropped my dress, revealing my adventuring armor hidden beneath. 

     The hunter went out the door, and I quickly followed him. It was dark, and honestly I couldn’t see shit, except the concern on Melkor's face, which I could not tell was worry or what, but he was moving fast. The rest of the group followed. We were outside of the Golden Goat when people started screaming and running in our direction followed by shambling corpses of Zombies! I took my usual position, behind the party, and waited. The Zombies came on, and soon we were in battle. I enacted Worthgart’s defense (which is actually an attack stance, go figure)  and was able to run through one of the Zombies with my rapier. The party dealt with the Zombies fast enough. Roman and Magnus spitting spells, Rarcek the Dwarf punishing them with his powerful melee attacks, and Melkor dropping them with powerful arrow shots. 

Zombies looked like this sort of.

     I took note that one of the Zombies killed a human and that human rose VERY quickly… not anything I remember hearing about but determined I did not want to die today. Not long after then a rider on a skeletal steed arrived with Skeletons, a blue light on the Horizon getting brighter and brighter at his back. I climbed on a nearby house and after half a minute those undead were also destroyed. Anyways, we ran and came across Silas, who was injured. Melkor put him in a wheelbarrow and we were off… I was checking for life from the slain townsfolk nearby (no, just looting them) and the group suddenly stopped near a Temple. An old man arrived in the entrance way and started talking to Magnus and then more undead creatures arrived. They went hard against Rarcek, who was quickly knocked unconscious… but he was a cleric and I needed him up for my own survival… so I ran in and pulled him back, forcing a potion down his throat. One of those damned floating things hit me, and the pain was severe. I could not take another hit like that. Then the creatures shrieked, and I found myself terrified not wanting to get closer to them. Soon Rarcek got another chance to act and he held aloft his weapon and it glowed with divine power, and soon the undead were fleeing! The party began to fight and I soon the grip of terror left me, and the man in the doorway was slain. I ran to the door to check the body of the man, but the building exploded and a giant monster erupted from the temple with a rider on his back. 

Something like this. Add an arrow stuck into it for Melkor's sake.

Melkor let loose an arrow and went into cover. The rest of the group and I ran, except Roman who stood there in the open. Then the undead dragon thing breathed some magic death at Melkor and Roman, knocking them down. He said some unhappy things about the end of the world, and was off. We ran back to check on the others, and I was utterly surprised to find they were still alive. Magnus beat me to the old man to loot, so I came up behind him and looted Magnus. We made our way to the docks, with some delay as our scouts were tied up with something. I tried to get on a roof and get a better look, but Gepardi have not so good sight in the dark. We ended up at a guardhouse, and I was able to charm one of the guards into giving me a healing potion, which I gave Rarcek in hopes that he would heal me first when the party needed it. We made docks and many ships were leaving, but a few were behind, their crews probably in bars nearby. I put back on my dress and went into the bar, full drama, and was able to pull a crew and it’s captain out. Their ship was the _________, bit it was wee small for our party and their crew. So I got them to believe the Rusty Bucket nearby was Melkor’s ship and we boarded it and sailed for Nisa. Unfortunately, the Captain, who had loaned me his coat (of which I pick pocketed a fancy pocket watch), saw the stupid chain sticking out of my dress and had be sent to the brig. He asked Melkor for the keys, of which I produced the Ring of Iron keys to not blow our cover. The men led me downstairs where I overtook them with threat of my rapier, and tied them up in a broom locker. Eventually Melkor came down and we moved the men into the brig (that I picked open, yeah!) and made sure to give them some of this amazing grog he purchased. I gave the keys to Melkor, and I went in the broom closet where I am now, I just finished packing up my dress that I had dropped to throw off the sailors… and I swore I heard thumping on the hull of the boat… let me check again…

     Good Elias I have been busy. So I went up onto the deck of the ship and there was a sea monster attacking the ship! I grabbed Roman and went into the ladderwell and asked him what we should do... but then Melkor was still on deck fighting the monster. Magnus and Rarcek had too much ale, and Magnus was acting like a child, as do all who drink alcohol, so I punched him in his sacred area. It worked on the Men in the taverns who think they can feel me up just because they are drunk and I am a woman. It did not have the effect I had hoped, but I do believe he became more focused. Maybe I hit him too hard... Anyways we went up and offered assistance to Melkor, but then I saw a headless soldier and decided up was better than here on the deck, so I climbed the pole in the middle of the ship to a stand that was up there. I was about to start shooting arrows at the beast when it appeared and smashed it's teeth into the deck. It was stuck! And the creature was totally right below me, so I pulled out my Rapier and dived down on it from above, Rapier pointed down. I landed easily enough, like normal, and soon the creature was dead. I went and unlocked the sailors from the jail below, and brought them up to the Captain who was very cold to me, for some reason. 

     We landed in Nissa, and on the way off the boat I saw Magnus had dropped an Amulet that looked maybe worth something. It looked like a Raven. I threw it in my pack. So Nissa is immense (many pockets waiting for my hand). It has buildings of all different types. Melkor wanted to get steeds, Roman wanted to go to a Library (BORING). I went with Melkor in an attempt to barter and lower the cost of the Horses. Well, the Establishment owner saw me coming a mile off and dusted my ass out quick.. to be honest I was not feeling that well so maybe that was it. I decided to start working on my Nissa accent, maybe it would help me ease into situations better (and ease out!) Failing miserably, I just gave my gold to Melkor so we could get on with this. In all honesty, it is heavy, and I could just steal it back if I wanted. I also gave Melkor the Amulet I found earlier as well as the Ring of Keys I got off of Silas. 

     We ended up at the Phiesty Pheonix Inn, where I was feeling much better. Roman started dealing out equipment he got from somewhere. I ended up with a VERY shiny dagger, one that was even easier to use than my Rapier! It was obviously magical, I think I will call it Pokey. Fine enough name as anything. 

     Then as always we were off, and ended up at a Monastary with Catacombs underneath. We initially found a dead monk but I searched him and found him to be evil. 

     - We rested in the inn in Nisa and in the morning we left to Volsid. On the way we came upon a camp which had some Ravens in it, and I killed their Raven quickly and our party made short work of the rest. 

     We continued on and just before Volsid we came upon an Orc attack against a group of Travellers. I watched one Orc cut down a girl and I made him my priority. I was able to kill him quickly, then went over the cart and jumped down ontop of another Orc and killed him. Then I went to Rarcek who was fighting a boss Orc. I distracted him and he was pummeled and I finished him off. 3 kills in a sitting. Then while the party went to check on the people, I made sure to check their cart for goods. I gave them 10 gold for their troubles and we helped them tow their cart into Volsid. 

     We stayed the night in the Inn, and a Harekin named Yarris was kind enough to buy me dinner and loan me 5 gold. He also told me that there is a Gathering of Beastkin in Wogrs Bend. 

     That night, we were awoken by a loud shriek. I opened the window only to see everyone else closing their windows. A rider was there and he was evil... I closed my door, went and got Roman and we went downstairs. We learned that the Ravens travel through here. 

     We hit the road and made it almost to Wogr's Bend when we came upon an Elf. He ended up being alright... I am not going into the details, because he said it would be dangerous. His name was Quailend. 

     Valdania, Raven woman. 

   

     

Season 3 - Synopsis 3 - Arabel - High Hunt

Active Characters -  Brianna, Roman, Rarcek, Valtyra (val-teir-a) and 10% Thundrik
Active Cohorts - None
Inactive Characters Present- None
Inactive Cohorts Present- None
Inactive Characters Not Present - Ulrich, Rorrick, Schoon-chee, Asher, Voxen, Alvar (Chisai), Sa'ar, Galdroon, Peck, Brock
Inactive Cohorts Not Present - Elayne
NPCs Attached to Group- 

Locations - Arabel (Cormyrean City)- Commander Duntharr's Office, Murder Scene in North Arabel, Mountains North of Arabel, Commander Duntharr's Home, 'The Baths.' 

Notable NPCs -  Kendall Morningstar, Commander Duntharr, Kellyanne Duntharr

Notable Enemies - Ogre Ranger hirelings, Perytons,  Mad Wizard

Summary - 

The party returned to the Pride of Arabel, and rested, and in the morning messages were left for each of them to come to the Duntharr's office for another mission. He told them about corpses found in the street that could have only been killed by a large pointed weapon, although no guards have seen a lance wielding knight riding his charger down the street. The worst part was that each victim had their hearts removed! 

The party was assigned to Investigator Morningstar, who took them to the most recent scene of death. After some investigation, the party realized that the blood trails did not lead just north, they led north and UP, as if a flying creature had taken them. 

The party went north and discovered dead horses on a trail, and then goblins attacked, which did not go well for the goblins due to the party's advanced level. They were able to determine that a Wizard and some warriors traveled north into the craggy area nearby. 

The party investigated, navigated traps, were attacked by Perytons, and as they advanced further they were attacked by Lava Elementals and Ogre Hunters. There was a Wizard there, but he was inexorably killed by the Magical Chaos that has been plaguing all of Abeir-Toril. 

(The wizard Mardigas (level 16) had been working with the Perytons to make sure no one happened upon his experiment. He was a pyromancer that was planning to summon a Lava Elemental army and ransack Arabel, angry at King Azoun for dismissing him from service. He found a location that was once volcanic but had been dormant for many centuries, but it was occupied by Perytons. He promised to equip with all sorts of weapons to assist them in their task if they allow him to experiment unmolested. Leading a unit of Knights from Cormyr to investigate something he made up, they were attacked and killed by the Perytons. Their weapons were taken, and after giving them some of his personal Magic Weapons and Items, Mardigas began working his Pyromancy to create the vast army of Lava Elementals.)

The party returned with the news of their success in dealing with the problem, and were offered dinner at Commander Duntharrs house. 

They went back to the Baths and enjoyed the day until the evening when they arrived at Commander Duntharrs house to enjoy a wonderful dinner cooked up by his wife, Kellyanne. While there, he let them know of another problem that has been coming up that the Watch cannot get a handle on. 

Inn patrons, have been coming up missing. Pre-paying for their rooms and leaving the rooms without any notice, often their steed or carriage left behind. The party was given the names of two recent missing persons and they are in the process of investigating when we left off.


XP - Combat - 4500 xp.

Session XP - 1500 xp.

Season 3 - Synopsis 2 - Arabel - Many Foul Balls

Active Characters -  Brianna, Roman, Thundrik, Rarcek, Valtyra (vol-teer-ah, formerly Silent Bob)
Active Cohorts - None
Inactive Characters Present- None
Inactive Cohorts Present- None
Inactive Characters Not Present - Ulrich, Rorrick, Schoon-chee, Asher, Voxen, Alvar (Chisai), Sa'ar, Galdroon, Peck, Brock
Inactive Cohorts Not Present - Elayne
NPCs Attached to Group-

Locations - Arabel (Cormyrean City)- Shrine to Tyr, Guzundel's (Magic Shop), Commander Duntharr's Office, Luorn's (Crystal Ball Salesmen), Wizard's Warehouse, 'The Baths' 

Notable NPCs -  Flindurl Cleric of Tyr, Ralphy, Commander Duntharr, Luorn Kabarr, Guzundel

Summary - The session started mid fight with the Shrine of Tyr fight. The thugs and their Captain were being held inside the Shrine by Rarcek, a solid hulk of metal guarding their escape. Outside Thundrik was taking well aimed shots at the enemy, while Brianna was using her support spells to knock the enemy unconscious. Roman completed a summoning spell and four Wolverines appeared, ran by Rarcek and began attacking the Thugs as they began to escape through the Shrine's windows. As they escaped, Roman's wolverines hot on their tails, Thundrik blasted them with his rifle. In the end, 3 thugs were slain, their Captain was arrested along with 2 other thugs, and one thug escaped. The watch arrived and took the thugs into custody. Flindurl was grateful and offered his assistance with healing in the future. Brianna ended up teleporting to Guzundel's where she appeared at a locked door. 

Inside of the locked door was Valtyra and Guzundel, and one of the two was being greatly intimidated and frightened by the Aasimar Female with the glowing halo. Guzundel attempted to get his pet to attack Valtyra, but Ralphy simply played with the Slayer and was generally pretty cute. After some escaping and door breaking, Guzundel ended up back in his store with Brianna calming things and Valtyra getting the answers she needed. The rest of the party arrived and they determined that Guzundel did not know the salesman of the faulty Crystal balls, but he would appear whenever one was sold and replace it with another. 

The party would then run and inform Commander Duntharr, who heard about the saving of the Shrine of Tyr, and gave them their warrants to use weapons in Arabel to defend themselves and tasked them with dealing with the situation. 

The party made a pit stop at Luorn's, and he felt better knowing about the faulty Crystal Balls. Then they headed back to Guzundels, only to find the magic item shop destroyed and Guzundel dead, apparently electrocuted, blown through the wall of his store. Rarcek checked immediately for life, but the human was dead. Ralphy was nearby, very disturbed and angry, and went off in a direction growling and sniffing the ground. The party followed. 

The playful young Bull Mastif ended up at a warehouse, and once inside, the party knew they had found what they were looking for. Then, suddenly, an Electrified Flesh Golem appeared from under a pile of crates, smashing them onto some of the player characters. Rarcek leapt into action, and then a fireball struck Thundrik and Brianna from out of nowhere. The party was also dealing with a flying, invisible Wizard! The party used their combined abilities to bring down the electrified monstrosity and soon after Valtyra clove the Wizard in two by leaping into the air and bringing her sword down through him. As he fell from the sky four of his Orbs fell and crashed all over Valtyra, and suddenly she changed into a Scorpion-thing that the victim at the Weary Knight Inn had become. 

The warehouse was quickly on fire and Roman attempted to keep the fire down by use of his magic, which allowed Rarcek to find two chests of gold. Valytra dragged the corpses of their enemies down the streets of Arabal to the tower where Commander Duntharr was about to head home for the day. 

He congratulated them and told them to get rest, there will be more for them to do in the morning, if they wish. He awarded each of the Party Members gold. Brianna stopped by Luorn's and informed him of the party's success and Luorn paid the gold promised, the pearl of power, and gave a Crystal ball to Brianna for the party. Roman went to inquire more about Midnight around the Pride of Arabel, but that come up fruitless. His familiar told him the rest of the party was heading somewhere so he left to meet them. 

The group ended up at a local Gym/Salon/Bathhouse commonly known in Arabel as 'The Baths'. Valtyra ended up fighting at a Gym with Thundrik betting on her to beat down a half-Orc, and then enjoying the next bit of time with a man who she would later know as Luken. 

The rest of the group went to the Bathhouse, where Rarcek was given a deep tissue massage by a feisty redheaded girl named Purcia. Brianna was led to her own personal baths because the bathhouse usually catered to men only. Roman went into the Sauna and sweated away his night. Valtyra, Thundrik, and Brianna ended up at the Salon, getting their hair 'did' and learning some interesting gossip from the ladies there. 

RUMORS - 
1. The temple of Bane in Zhentil Keep lies in smoking ruins, and all of the god's clerics there were killed; Bane appeared there to his followers in the aftermath of the destruction. This happened the night of the great storm.
2. The gods are stripped of their power; clerics can gain only the simplest magic through prayer.
3. Magic doesn't work properly anymore. All across the Realms spells are going awry; many wizards have been injured or slain by their own magics.
4. The gods have arrived in the Realms to destroy unfaithful worshipers directly, and to reward the loyal and true-with gems, gold, honors, and powerful new magic.
5. Golkont the Hawk-Mage, a solitary wizard who once slew an entire horde of orcs single-handedly with his Art, has been seen in the Stonelands. He was riding a lamia toward Cormyr, and was surrounded by a ring of will-o-the-wisps that moved with him as he rode.
6. Juldoon of Marsember, famous gem merchant, recently paid 6,000 pieces of gold for a new sort of gem, a type never seen in the Realms before; a gem with magical powers.
7. The legendary blade Sorcryst, The Tongue of the Elves, stolen from Myth Drannor long ago (before its fall) has been found again! An adventurer bore it in triumph into Hillsfar, where it was identified by the sage Thannaster. The adventurer, a warrior from far-off
Neverwinter called Huln Darkblade, has not been seen since.

The party returned to the Pride of Arabel, and rested, and in the morning messages were left for each of them to come to the Duntharr's office for another mission. 

XP - Combat - 1500 xp.

Session XP - 1500 xp.

Season 3 - Synopsis 1 - Arabel - The Time of Troubles Begins

Active Characters -  Brianna, Brock, Roman, Thundrik, Rarcek, (Silent Bob)
Active Cohorts - None
Inactive Characters Present- None
Inactive Cohorts Present- None
Inactive Characters Not Present - Ulrich, Rorrick, Schoon-chee, Asher, Voxen, Alvar (Chisai), Sa'ar, Galdroon, Peck
Inactive Cohorts Not Present - Elayne
NPCs Attached to Group-

Locations - Arabel (Cormyrean City)- The Pride of Arabel (Inn, Grand), The Weary Knight (Inn, Very Good) Guzundels (Magic Shop), Luorns (Crystal Ball Salesmen), Antharns (well, outside of there), Shrine to Helm, Shrine to Tyr. 

Notable NPCs - Midnight, Commander Duntharr, Luorn Kabarr, Guzundel, Salreen Shamarsair, Dunlas Tathelkom, Antharn, Alanaerle. 

Summary - A Great Storm began all over Faerun (reported) and lasted until nighttime, when in Arabel, a woman named Midnight entered through the previously braced doors of the Pride of Arabel glowing from head to toe with a Pendant grafted to her upper chest. The party worked on recovery, taking care of the citizens. With the help of Dunlas Tathelkom, innkeep, they turned the Pride of Arabel into a field hospital. 

They learned then that Magic was not reliable, bad things could happen when magic was casted, and that Clerics could not get higher than 2nd level spells at all. Brock comforted a Whip-mistress (Cleric) of Loviatar. They met a wizard Antharn, who wanted to research the problem, but was unable to access his house. 

After being provoked by some Worshipers of the Flaming Hand (Bane), and Thundrik blasting them dead, the party ended up meeting Commander Dunthar of the Purple Dragon. He threatened them, and they decided to help him out to gain access to their weapons by virtue of a royal charter.  

The party traveled to the Weary Knight and met Alanaerle, the Innkeeper. She showed them a room with a dead merchant who had changed into a twisted thing, scaled hands and a scorpion tail. His crystal ball appears to have exploded as well. Brianna found a mold spores that has been imbued with a transmutation spells. Silent Bob located a piece of paper that said '50G', and looked like a receipt. It said Guzundels on it. As Brock was helping (pretty sure he was helping himself as well) Alanaerle, the party was then approached by Luorn Kabarr, who said he would pay them each 1000 gold and give a pearl of power to Brianna for finding out what has been going on with Crystal Balls in the Dragonreach area. Brianna and Roman studied Luorn's balls (the Crystal ones, don't get excited) and determined his were not falsely made. Thundrik and Rarcek went to Guzundels and basically got kicked out and brought back to Commander Duntharr, who exclaimed they needed evidence to ransack someones establishment or home. Duntharr took Thundrik's pistol, despite some mention of the 2nd Amendment (whatever THAT is), and set them on their way. 

Rarcek gathered the parts of the Crystal Ball and rebuilt it, and determined it was imperfect by his Drarven Craft standard. The party ended up back at the Pride of Arabel, where Midnight exclaimed that her magic continued to work normally. 

The next day the party made their way back to Guzundels and while they were trying to get at one of Guzundels Crystall balls, a Dwarven Cleric of Tyr ran down the street proclaiming his Shrine was being destroyed. The party began the fight, but the session ended mid fight. At the same time, Silent Bob was starting to make some type of move on Guzundel. 

XP - Combat - None really.
Session XP - 1500xp

Wrath and Glory, Episode 1 The Drop (aka Autocannons hurt)

Synopsis 12 - Circus World

Active Characters - Voxen, Alvar (Chisai), Brianna, Asher
Active Cohorts - None
Inactive Characters Present- None
Inactive Cohorts Present- None
Inactive Characters Not Present - Ulrich, Rorrick, Brock, Schoon-chee
Inactive Cohorts Not Present - Elayne
NPCs Attached to Group-  Vi

Notable NPCs - Ellenzenara, Gena, Baldar Guz, Balbag, Magellas Fume. 

Brock’s airship landed east of Asbravn, in an open area surrounded by woods. Brock had to stay on board, and the rest of the group travelled west to the city. Along the way, the party consisting of Brianna, Asher, King Alvar Hochiko, Vulcan, and Voxen on horseback passed hundreds of excited families on the roads heading toward Asbravn.

At the city limits two Riders in Red Cloaks approached and sounded to Brianna and Asher, who had saved Asbravn from a rampaging Hydra. Yeager Ford was the name of the Sergeant. They met with Voxen and Alvar, who noted his kingship. Of course.

The town was besieged on all sides by invading excited children and their families. Circus World paraphernalia was being marketed within the City Limits by all sorts of merchants. The Inn and Tavern had no vacancies. Some party members tried to gather information at the Tavern but just received general information.

The party decided to head to the location of Circus World, 30 miles due west of Asbravn. Upon arrival at Circus World, the adventurers beheld an enormous colored tent rising high into the sky. Scores of wagons and tents lined up about the attraction, and hundreds of people formed lines at the ticket booth.

Asher got in line for the party, and after a hefty wait he finally arrived at the booth. A human inside the booth offered tickets for 1 Gold Piece, and various items such as a Circus World Flask, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Cotton Candy. They also sold tickets for 10 gold that included a stay in the Circus World Inn. He ordered the tickets and handed them to the party. The tickets were highly ornate. As they were handing out the tickets, Brianna was sure she saw something as it was being passed to her. She looked at the ticket, and there was a moving image on it, showing different attractions at the park. But she had thought she saw something, but did not want to believe it. The party took their tickets to the Clowns in near the entrance, the ticket sliding through a slot and coming out a stub with a flourish of magical glitter. The party then began to make its way through the entrance.

Upon passing through the entrance to circus world, the parties gear (minus some special items like Alvar’s sword) completely changed into fashionable wear. Weapons and items that were not ornate were no longer visibly present. Voxen was afraid he was exposed and turned outside, having to buy another ticket before entering. Thankfully, his disguise was not altered inside of Circus World.

2 Stone Golems guarded the main entrance, holding steady as the party went by. Alvar and Vulcan checked in at the Inn, and made their way back to see the Strongman show. Inside the circus ring there stood a strongman carrying two elephants as if they were feathers and performing other feats of incredible strength. After that the ringmaster announced to behold the Cart being pulled out into the ring. The small cart was pulled by a small pony. It stopped near the center of the ring and twenty clowns took turns jumping out of it.  Then they all got back in, and the cart was pulled off to the preparation room. The Ringmaster stood out into the middle of the ring, and unlike the vile creature Brianna, Vulcan and _______ saw inside of Voxen’s mind when they were being controlled by Balbag, this was a much kinder looking man. He announced a break until the next show.

The party went to the Zoo and saw many different types of creatures, including Bears, Manticores, an Ice Devil, Dire Wolves, Dire Tigers, a Dire Bear (wearing a specific collar), a Behir, a Remorhaz, a Leng Spider, Trolls, Yetis, a Gorgon, Elder Fire Elementals, Gorillas, Elephants, an Empty Cage and a Couatl that was about to convey a message to Brianna before a Master came along and interrupted.

The party then went back and saw the Aquarium, which was a new exhibit, that had a Megalodon and a Giant Squid inside of an immense rotating tank.

The party made its way to the Freak Show Exhibit where they immediately saw a Great Cyclops caged in a barren cage attached to a stone column by a chain.

Then Brianna noticed something that cleared up what she saw on the ticket earlier. It was Aunty Gertrude, a Night Hag witch. She immediately became frightened, even more than Voxen who had been nervous up to this time. She went back into the hallway and waited in the relative safety of not being near Aunty Gertrude.

The party came into the Freakshow and saw the Cyclops up close, Asher staring down the huge giant. The Cyclops began to stare at Asher. There was staring. The Cyclops, frustrated at the staring, looked away and Asher declared himself the winner.

The party went and retrieved Brianna, and Brianna went to Gertrude’s cage where Gertrude appeared to be knitting a sweater. Without looking up, Gertrude said “Hello Brianna, I was wondering if this was your size.” After a brief discussion, Brianna asked how Gertrude was, and the Night Hag could only grunt through clenched teeth that she was ‘Fine, and being well taken care of.’

There were two skeletons, one very tall and one very short, and they seemed to get along together in one of the cages. There was also a Dire Rat King, a freakish monster in one cage.

Ellenzenara, the Bearded Elven Lady in the Freak show, was in a cage at the far end of the room from where the party entered. The party made contact with her and learned of the Puppet Master, who once part of the Freakshow but had escaped and was helping to free the others in the circus. The party was also able to determine that the Freak show cast was under some sort of spell that made sure they did not reveal their captivity.

In one cage was a large Flesh Golem whose nameplate said, “Frank & Stein’s Monster,” who appeared to be scared of the circus clowns. He said they were NOT friends. But then Voxen stated he was a friend, and flashed his other form to Frank. Immediately Frank’s face lighted up and he said “GENA!” And went on to talk about how Gena was a friend but there were many who were not friends.

The party headed to the Circus show again when a small puppet appeared in the hallway. It led the party nearer to the Inn where the Puppetmaster appeared. The Puppetmaster appeared to be a humanoid with all black leather clothing. He informs the group that Baldar Guz does not have control over the Stone Golems, that they are ‘pre-programmed’ to keep everyone safe. The clowns are not safe from this effect.

They adjourn to the inn where the Puppetmaster reappeared and they continued to talk about the Forest beyond Circus World, which connects to 3 other Circuses. A portal there used to allow Kami in to entertain the masses as clowns, but the actions of Baldar Guz caused them to become Oni, and now these evil creatures enter the Forest beyond though the Puppetmaster admits it does not know about the purpose of the Oni.  

Remembering the incident with the Coatl, Alvar reaches out and connects with the Coatl in a mind blowing (called 20 on a D20) chance that the Coatl was reaching out at the same moment. It points out where Magellas Fume is buried.

The party heads towards the Aquarium and climbs atop the feeding area and finds caves behind the aquarium. They search through the caves and locate Magellas Fume’s crypt, in which they decide to take on a quest to locate Oni substance to prove to Magellas’ ghost that Oni have taken over the Kami.

The mission doesn’t last long when the party decides to attack some Oni near the Aquarium and they easily provide proof to Magellas. Magellas turns the Stone Golems against the Oni, and the party heads back to the Freak show.

In the Freak Show, the party lets out the caged persons except Brittany the fat lady because she was a horrible person. Frank is released, then Frank charges Gertrude’s cage and frees Gertrude who immediately disappears.

Balbag appears and takes over one of the monsters in the Freak show and attempts to attack the party when Gena appears and stabs Balbag through the heart.

The Cyclops departs towards the zoo to retrieve his Dire Bear and the party heads towards the preparation room to enter the Forest. Frank comes with the party, and Gena is helping people escape.

The party encounters a large force of Oni and a battle ensues. 

XP - Combat 3000
Session XP - 2500