Session 6/2/07

                Alindor 14: Two newcomers arrive at the Shining Citadel in the early morning hours.  The first is a handsome blond man who calls himself Kaelin.  Clad in plate mail and carrying a longsword and large steel shield, Kaelin announces himself to the guards of the Luminous Order and heads to the tavern for some hot breakfast.  A light breeze blows through a single bluejay feather tucked into his short blond hair, a common symbol of the Holy Liberators of Gwardo.  He’s been on the road north for a time, passing through the Elsir Vale from the capital city of Oberwald.

                Kaelin orders some toasted bread, scrambled eggs and cheese from the tavern’s hostess, then sits down to enjoy his meal.  Jack, who is now nursing a mighty hangover, strikes up a conversation with the newcomer and relates the party’s difficulties in the Slaughterscar to Kaelin.  Not long after, Ayotunde and Klar show up followed by Altaer.  Jack introduces Kaelin to the rest of his companions, and by lunchtime they have agreed to welcome Kaelin and his strong sword arm into their ranks.  Their pride has taken a blow as they were forced to flee the Armory, but Kaelin’s light demeanor and confidence bolsters the party as they prepare to return to the site of their only significant defeat thus far.

                The second visitor to the Citadel is a fuzzy-bearded old man named Besha, who stands only about 5’4.  He speaks with a short, sarcastic tone and seems extremely cantankerous, but the Luminous Order welcomes him and his cart full of rare magical antiquities.  Besha’s cart unfolds by magic as he waves his hand, revealing multiple drawers, cases and folding tables covered with wondrous items, weapons, scrolls and potions.  He conducts a brisk business all day, though he will speak only obliquely of the origins of his stock.  Every one of the five companions engages in a few transactions with the strange little man, but when Jack approaches Besha he tries to goad Jack into getting angry.  Perhaps Besha is a bit put out by Jack’s assumption that he is feytouched?  Jack is confused by Besha’s belligerence, but he still conducts his business.  Despite Jack’s best efforts, he has yet to manifest his dreambrand fully.

                Re-equipped and full of purpose, the party (now consisting of Altaer, Ayotunde, Jack, Kaelin and Klar) heads back into the hills east of Jewelford towards the Slaughterscar.  That night, they camp peacefully in the shadows of the ancient ruins near the dream node they found previously.  Nothing disturbs their sleep in the hauntingly quiet zone.

                Alindor 15: Bad weather greets the heroes as they awaken in the pre-dawn hours.  A heavy thunderstorm of cold, thick droplets pours down all day, slowing their passage through to the vine cave to a crawl.  Though the hike is treacherous with mud and the occasional minor rockslide, the party reaches the cleansed vine cave by nightfall and sleeps there before entering the Slaughterscar.

                Alindor 16: Klar leads the group back into the demonic wastelands of the ‘Scar, departing the vine cave by the light of dawn.  The rain stopped during the night, but large puddles of muck slow their initial progress.  However, Klar encourages everyone to force-march back to the crater near the center of the ‘Scar, and he leads them to their destination by late afternoon.  The party proceeds inside cautiously, noting that the barricade they destroyed has not been repaired yet.  They descend the elevator near the dead mountain troll’s post and prepare to explore the remainder of the Armory.

                Waiting below in the glow of the garish orange beetle-lamps is a creature from the outer planes: a deadly guardian known as a mezzoloth (identified as such by Ayo’s knowledge of the planes).  The insect-like outsider snarls and clicks its displeasure at the intrusion and calls forth a billowing cloud of noxious vapor – a cloudkill.  It confidently moves in for the kill as the vapors surround the party, choking off their breath and weakening their bodies.  The mezzoloth cuts deeply into both Klar and Kaelin with its magical halberd, and between its deadly weapon and the fumes, the party is forced to beat another hasty retreat out of the Armory, fleeing as the fiend laughs in triumph.  Somewhat demoralized and panicked, they agree to an all night forced march back to the vine cave to regroup.  The cloudkill badly damaged the adventurers’ constitution, and by the end of the forced march they collapse on the vines, choking and coughing.  Ayotunde casts lesser restoration to stave off the worst of the fatigue and damage, but the vapors still cling to the insides of her friends’ lungs.  She must rest and pray for more restorative magic in the morning.

                Alindor 17-18: In the safe confines of the vine cave, Ayotunde carefully restores her companions to good health.  By the end of the second day of her ministrations, everyone feels confident enough to return to the Armory for a third attempt.

                Alindor 19: Klar picks his way through the blighted lands of the Slaugherscar, leading his friends through the now familiar territory towards the spiraling fissure of the Armory.  A few hours past midday, they enter the dread locale again and move quickly down the elevator into the statue room.  The mezzoloth, still waiting there as a patient sentinel, chuckles at their return, but the party is far better prepared for its tactics this time around.  They use mobility to avoid the worst of the cloudkill fumes and surround the yugoloth.  Thanks to some align weapon enhancements from Ayotunde, Kaelin’s and Klar’s magical blades cut through the creature’s damage reduction and finish it off quickly.  As it dies, it crumbles into a stinking pile of ooze and carbonized solids.  The statue room now lies empty, and one of Gashkarr’s strongest guardians has been defeated.

Azarr Kul's Ambition