Session 11-16-07

                Tenanye 2, 22CR: In the early morning after the Feast of All Divine concludes, and not yet having slept, the party makes its way over to Taliraen Independent Couriers and Sendings so Nathaniel may send a letter to Adrien Verdarnes in Aerendale-Haven.  Nathaniel’s letter warns Adrien of the ongoing conspiracy of evil, specifically the Chaal-Nathran worm infestation (which seems only to affect voluntary hosts), their extensive use of illusions, and their ability to masquerade as others quite effectively.  After delivering the letter, the group returns to the Fanged Spear for a long rest.  They awaken a few hours after midday and enjoy a smoked barbeque pork lunch at the Roasted Hog next door.

                After lunch, they determine to visit the Swift Paw thieves’ guild to learn more about what has befallen Jagya.  Clearly, Zara’s friend was not in his right mind – or not in control of his mind – when he gave them the “tip” which led to the ambush outside the Bench.  After a few inquiries, they are able to follow the Swift Paw guild back to the Pit fighting-house, where the guild allegedly conducts much of its business.

                The friendly lady orc barkeep on the Pit’s daytime shift fills the party’s ale mugs, and after a short time an Ash-Eye orc clad in a black leather artificer’s apron meanders out from the back room to meet them.  He introduces himself as Vandak and invites them to the back for conversation.

                Vandak seems a thoughtful and calm second, and he affirms the party’s fears that Jagya had been acting strangely.  By now they suspect that “Jagya” is actually Grind’raal the Cougar, the well-known orc burglar who founded the Swift Paws, but Vandak confirms it. The odd behavior began soon after the guildmaster met Zara.  He returned to his manor house for an ordinary rest, but didn’t turn up for guild functions for about 48 hours.  Then he returned, but occasionally seemed distracted, anxious or pre-occupied with some business.  Nathaniel learns that the Cougar kept up his daytime disguise as Lord Jagya at his purchased manor house in the Dragonbane Stead in the northeast end of Thran-Gaar.  After thanking Vandak for his help, Nathaniel assures him that they will visit the manor and try to help Grind’raal.

                By late afternoon the sun has begun to dip low, and long shadows follow the adventurers’ footsteps into the orchards of Dragonbane Stead.  Jagya’s manor is easily located and none of the Dragonbane guards bothers the party as they move inside.  Evening falls as Telenvor makes a thorough search for traps at the front door.  The rogue finds two traps: a poisoned needle on the door latch and an arcane trap around the entrance which seems to have a strong necromantic aura.  After careful and slow work, Tel disarms both traps.  “Whew, I wasn’t sure about the second one.  That seemed like a big nasty… how’d Jagya learn the magic to set up something like that?”  he asks, taking a long drag off Essedar’s green buds.

                As they enter the manor, a dreadful weeping sound echoes through the great hall.  Zara and Essedar see Jagya’s body suspended between the pillars of the hall by slick, blood-red tentactles.  As they approach, he continues moaning and weeping pathetically, as though despairing of any hope.  Suddenly the room goes dark and a hidden assailant strikes!  A medium-sized demon with sticky black skin and long clawed fingers starts raining spells down on the party.

                Jagya’s body falls to the floor and begins churning with a horrible, disgusting sloshing sound.  His face turns up towards Zara and the others, and he pleads without coherent words for them to flee.  As he tries to speak, a mass of clotted black matter bellows forth from his overlarge mouth, spattering Zara, Londario and Tel.  All manage to cover their mouths, but the flesh-sack that Grind’raal/Jagya has become continues to writhe and spit more viscous goop.  Meanwhile, the hidden demon continues to assail the group with spells and sneak attacks from the shadows.  Nathaniel conjures an acid arrow and aims it for the center of poor Jagya’s body, and the projectile mercifully melts the last of the orc away.  Jagya’s corrupted flesh moves no more.

                The demon, which Nathaniel identifies as a babau once it steps from the shadows, chuckles to itself and flees the scene via teleportation.  Though they are shocked and saddened by Grind’raal’s torturous passing, Nathaniel and the others set to the grim business of examining his corpse.  Nathaniel immediately spots some tell-tale signs of a plague that they have already encountered: small black particles of clotted sticky matter are slowly spreading and joining with one another, identical to the pattern of infection they first discovered in the Red Paths slums of Aerendale.  The Swift Paw guildmaster must have been infected with this same plague somehow – an infectious, involuntary version of the worm infestation, perhaps?

                With this information in hand, the companions burn and bury Grind’raal’s corpse, ensuring the elimination of all the infectious material.  They return to Thaggha’s castle the same night and immediately seek an audience with Valthirok Wraithscorch, who in turn takes them to the orc King’s private offices.  Once informed of the presence of this plague in his city, Thaggha reluctantly but firmly resolves to cancel Prince Royce’s diplomatic visit.  “This will set back our trade efforts with Moridar, and it will not lessen the tensions on our western borders with them.  However, I can see no alternative given the present dangers you have uncovered in my city,” the King sighs heavily.  “Once again you have performed a great service for us, but one that I wish was unnecessary.”

                Since the plague of Caladere seems to have reappeared in Thran-Gaar in a more advanced form, Nathaniel asks Kradoth Frosthorn for access to the orcish alchemy labs.  There, he and Essedar perform the necessary steps to brew all the rest of their aromatic Zorfrond tea (enough for sixteen doses), after which Zara blesses the tea flasks with protective rites of Arinna.

Falling Stars, Rising Hope