Raig 30th 1518 TH

No More Riddles

Part 1 of 3 Stream

As you ponder what to do and how to retrieve the Heart, you see a yellow glow appear around the face of the Statue and superimposed upon is the face of a Woman, that you instantly recognise is that of Thystonius

​Tystonius Conversation Points

Thystonius will be slightly more helpful

How dare you desecrate the Tomb of King Undast Valzal. Are the gifts you have received not enough?
What else do you want here?

Mention of the Heart
Ask Garlen, for it is there’s
For what do you require this Heart for?
Only those that Garlen wishes my touch the Heart

If they mention Isineke, Thystonius will roar in anger

That foul creature still lives?
Indeed Rashomon has hidden it well
What do you know of this vile creature?

Thystonius will mention

Rashomon has long sort to overrule all of the passions
They have tried many times and failed
Each time they have made inroads but have been defeated
I believe they are close to finding items that will aid them
But Rashomon is adept at keeping their secrets
Speak with Garlen, tell them this and they will help you
Tell them I will allow you to take the item if they wish it

​Talking With Garlen

Galen will become more receptive to conversation

​Garlen Conversation Points

They will want to know about

The Heart
Who they got the information from
What their intentions are

If Isineke mentioned will reveal similar information that Thystonius did/has

That foul creature still lives?
Indeed Rashomon has hidden it well
What do you know of this vile creature?

Garlen will mention

Rashomon has long sort to overrule all of the passions
They have tried many times and failed
Each time they have made inroads but have been defeated
I believe they are close to finding items that will aid them
But Rashomon is adept are keeping their secrets

The will become significantly more receptive to conversation after this is revealed to them

They will ask them to release their Questor, the Demi Wraith
Questor Of Garlen: Silak Magnus
Talk to him
Although this will be difficult due to his current state
Continually mention Garlen, This will distract him momentarily
He can only be released by killing him in his current state
I will then receive him and restore his mind
Do this and I will allow you to take the Heart

Thazdrill

They are trapped The Wall Of Garlen
Do not die in their or you will become their servant and I can not help you then
They possess a book on the Stone of Metamorphosis
It details it’s abilities
It’s history
It does not detail it’s location
It lies somewhere in Parlainth

Stone of Metamorphosis

Same warnings as the Heart
If it is being searched for and not yet found it won’t be long until it is found
Make haste and locate the item
By then I may have more answers

They will aid them more

Extra uses of the fountain
Twice/day
The ability to pass the Wall Of Garlen to kill Thazdrill
Tell them to access the font
For better PD or MD, but not both. This +1 Bonus is permanent

WARNINGS

The Heart can never get in the hands of Isineke
There maybe one who may be able to use it and keep it safe
This is Nightsky: Niebonac’htt
But Garlen doesn’t know they have met
Nor do they know if Nightsky can yet be trusted
She will advise them to keep it safe
Do not let it out of your sight
I will return when I have determined if their heart remains true
Until then, take my blessings
All will be fully healed
They will all be given
+2 to a Talent of their choosing whilst they remain in the tomb

Leaving

Garlen will take their leave and say
I take my leave I shall not return
If you need further help speak with my avatar, use the pendants
However they will not answer your questions directly
Think hard should you need to ask a question
Use my fountain
They will tell the group what it does

The group rest in the Temple Of Garlen for the evening and upon awakening all of their injuries have been healed and Kor’Milan has a surprise for them. This morning he has prepared the group with a veritable feast for their breakfast and his mood has changed to one that is highly empathetic. This surprises Kalias immensely and he doesn’t really understand this change at all.

During this time Garlen appears unannouncd and invites Kor’Mailan to become one of their Questors. Kor’Milan is immensely honour and after a long discussion with Garlen agrees to take up this mantel. Which now makes taking the Heart Of Garlen much easier as only a Questor of Garlen can handle the item.

Teayu 1st 1518 TH

Demi Wraith, Questor Of Garlen, Silak Magnus

This door is quite different to all the other doors you have seen thus far. There is no image of the Troll on this door. What you see on this door are several warding runes you have seen before, however these appear to be very much still intact. Surprisingly the door is not locked

These wards are to stop both the Demi Wraith and the main horror from moving any further into the Tomb. Although they were not intended for the Demi Wraith. This Wraith is actually a Questor Of Garlen, but got turned by Thazdrill. However he still has a modicum of control.

As you get to the junction you can just see into a huge room some 30 meters long. At the end you can see a black and gold throne on a high pedestal sat upon which is a shadowy figure. At both sides there are braziers lighting the room.

In the centre of the room you can see what looks to be purple runes carved into the floor. Along the sides of the room is what you think are the remains of tapestries that have either been purposely destroyed or have rotted over time.

Ah, hello travellers, have you come to see the king? I’m afraid he’s not here and I fear something terrible has happened to him. Are you here for that. Has something terrible happened. Are you going to help the king?

You can clearly see before you a black shadowy humanoid standing some 2 meters tall. You can not see any features on the face and the voice seems to come from all around the room rather than from the shadowy entity sat on the throne.

Then he continues:

Friends did Ephinor Edus send you? I hope it’s good news?

The is a Demi Wraith, who was a Questor Of Garlen called Silak Magnus. He does indeed engage in conversation, but throughout the conversation he appears to be fighting something off some unseen entity as he occasionally shouts out random comments. Eventually he is unable to resit for much longer and even shouts at the group that he can’t hold back much longer. The group take that opportunity to attack.

​Lesser Krillra: Name: Fraxith

There is a Lesser Krillra flying around this area, when it spots the group it will shriek alerting the Wraith. Need to make sure Krillworm sees this and recognises the creature then interacts with it. This Lesser Krilla will become excited when Chirp encounters it and Kallias has a hard time getting Chirp under control. Even when he does the Lesser Krilla does not leave kallias alone and follows him wherever he goes.

As the shadowy figure slumps to the floor it says;

Thazdrill is trapped, that foul creature can not leave it’s prison yet. But beware, it will harvest you of your Karma and once it has enough then it will be able to break out of its prison and escape. It can not be allowed to escape, for it holds the secrets that only Undast knew. The secrets of the Heart, the……………..

You watch as the fallen body regains a peaceful appearance, lying on the floor in torn robes that identify him as a Questor of Garlen. Pinned to his chest is a blue brooch, same as the brooch you found with the kneeling Skeleton, with the emblem signifying Garlen. His body is then enveloped in a blue glowing light and you hear Garlen, say.

Be at peace my faithful servant, you are free and shall be honoured for your service.

Bound Spirits

Part 2 of 3 Stream

​The Throne

Examining the throne carefully you feel a small ridge in the shape of a square indicating that there is a secret chamber. Examining further you find to the side of the throne a small recess and with the recess is a small latch.

The chamber is trapped and when pressing the latch without disarming the trap, it will be initiated.

​Poison Blade Trap

Blade Trap: GMG: 181
Detection Difficulty: 7
Disarm Difficulty: 9
Trigger Condition: Pressing the latch
Trap Initiative: 17
Trap Effect: Initially take Step 12 Damage, if armour protects the blade shatters
Poison: If take any damage then they are poisoned -2 to Effect Tests
Resist Poison: Toughness vs 10
Duration: Until Dead. Take Step 12 Damage every hour and -2 cumulative penalty to all effect tests

​Treasure Magical Puzzle Box

Inside the chamber is a small oblong box 20 by 10 by 10. It has the sigil of Garlen on the top It has no keyhole, or latch, nor does it appear to have a lid, or markings. Around one of the longer side you see small squares which can be pressed. You find 20 small squares on one side. None on the edges or top or bottom of the box. Pressing one makes that square pop out. Pressing another one immediately returns the last button back into position, flush against the box. There are no distinguishing marks except for the small ridges in-between each button.

Viewing the box in Astral Space you can clearly see 20 separate threads, one each coming from each button, which looks as if they are slowly wafting in the wind. Problem can not be solve in Astral Space. It will confirm if two buttons are pressed in the correct sequence that those two threads weave together.

​Secret Door

There is a secret door behind the throne requiring a Perception Test = 10. Spot a leaver to one side in a secret alcove and when pulled the wall slides to one side and reveals a staircase going down.

​Pit Room

Coming down several flights of well lit stairs you start to hear the sound of a loud wind, a whooshing cacophony as if there’s a hurricane. Coming round the corner you see before you a funnel of wind coming out of a hole in the floor, surrounded by shattered stone. In the whirlwind funnel you see many pieces of rock debris being thrown around and out in to the room. You also see a small white figurine. This looks almost identical to the others you have found but is white.

​Elemental Air Spirit

There is an Elemental Air Spirit trapped here, free the spirit.

This Spirit has gone slightly insane, but in a good way. It won’t intentionally harm the group, but they will be harmed by random materials spinning of from the maelstrom it lives within.

Will sort of know it’s trapped, but will be confused about this and think the group want to trap it, or have trapped it.

They need to so retrieve the Golem of Air. When they return with it and hand it to the Elemental the wind funnel will stop and all the debris will coming crashing down in to the pit below. There is nothing in the pit below, it looks like the rock has been weathered over a huge span of time by this wind.

As soon as you hand over the White Golem Figurine the whirlwind stops, all the rock debris falls to the floor and all is quiet.

​Broken Statue Room

Just head is a small room, with a broken statue on the floor. The Statue looks like Garlen. The room is also covered in thick spiders webs.

There are no spiders. However a piece of rubble will fall to the ground as they are walking through this room

Cautiously walking through the room expecting Spiders or the Statue to animate you feel relived as you get to the other side and see ahead is a junction. But at that moment you hear a loud bang of falling rock, you look behind ready to defend yourselves. Nothing, just a rock falling.

​Dark Well Room

You come to a crossroads and inn the centre there is what appears to be a well. You don’t hear anything, no sounds of water or anything else.

The well has long since dried up, if anyone investigates they will find it stone dry and nothing else.

​Library Room

As you approach a room you get a whiff of rotting, rotting paper or wood. You peer into the room and see before you all three walls covered in bookcases from Floor to Ceiling and full of books. But you can see that many books have long since rotted away. As you carefully investigate, nearly all the books you touch immediately turn to dust or are so rotten nothing is legible within. You do find a few books that have survived.

​Books Found

All books have had magic’s cast up on them to preserve them.

​Journal Of Undast Valzal The Immortal King

Looks in perfect condition. Chronicles in detail the whole history of the King.

15 cm thick, 40 cm long and 25 cm wide.

​Four Spell Caster Books

In a language you don’t recognise. You only recognise the symbology on the front covers to represent the four different Spell Casters.

5 cm thick, 30 cm long, 22 cm wide

These books will have some spells in them that are not in 4th Edition. But is a player wants any of these spells they need to do the work and convert them. Otherwise they will only be worth selling.

​Key Knowledges Book

In a language you don’t recognise. But has many drawings contained within. You recognise the Sword, The Golem’s, A Puppet, A Golden Heart, and a Blue Stone Pendant. There are also other items you haven’t seen before.

The book has some but not all Key Knowledge Information.
5 cm thick, 30 cm long, 22 cm wide

​Stone Of Metamorphosis/Transformation

Plus a Perl, which you surmise might be the Stone Of Metamorphosis. When they eventually get round to reading the book they will discover that the Stone was given to Parlainth rulers before they left prior to the Scourge.

​The Elemental Arts

Detailed lists of Elemental Sprits and some named Spirits are included, also has details regarding the other Elemental Spirits, such as their names and some history.
3 cm thick, 25cm long, 20 cm wide

​Bone Circle

There are two named Ally Spirits here, that were put here by the Nethermancer and Questor Of Garlen Silak Magnus, as a last defence against the Horror to attack it should it escape it’s prison.

The Bone Spirits are Ally Spirits, one is good (Parishia) the other is bad (Kimosa).

Parishia wants to leave, but, Kimosa doesn’t. But both have to leave together or stay together

​How can they be released?

Good Spirit: Parishia
Bad Spirit: Kimosa

Conversation Points

The horror has to be slain for them to even have the choice to leave or stay

They will also mention the Dagger Of Aseroth which deals significant damage to certain horrors. Those that deal with Rashomon, of which Thazdrill does in deed.

Parishia will offer to become a Ghost Master for someone in the group if it is freed

Kimosa will also offer, but will want to quiz the person they choose first of all. If that person is sarcastic, cracks jokes, isn’t serious about the offer in anyway, then she will refuse

Ghost Master: Companion: PG:19 and 113 for Knack, Thread Weaving Rank 5

Kimosa still wants to remain, but is also bound by friendship to Parishia so can be persuaded to leave. As when the Horror is slain neither are bound any more so can choose

Thazdrill

Part 3 of 3 Stream​​

Horror Room: Hall Of Knights

Before you is a barrier of blue flames, yet you feel no heat from it. Inside you can see huge room some 50 m long and 30 m wide. In the centre of the is room is raised area out of which flickering flames can be seen.

Down the sides of this grand hall you can see long rows of Plate Mail Suits Of Armour. Are they decorative or are beasts contained within?

At the very end of the room is huge black marbled Throne veined in silver. Sat on this throne is a large beast, as black as night with leathery wings and white horns and with a large sword by it’s side. In it’s hands it is dangling a puppet by it’s strings.

And at the end to either side of the throne are two huge statues standing some 20 m tall.

Thazdrill stands 15 m tall

Then you hear a bass like voice say.

Greetings my little toys. It has been so long since I had someone to play with. Have you come to pay homage to the True Ruler of Barsaive? Lord Rashomon. Release me from this tomb, and she will grant you all you could ever wish for and more. Or die here and become my servants for all eternity. So what do you choose?

Go Estellac Shadow Walker, greet our new friends

The horror then throws the puppet to the floor. It’s strings disappear and it stands up by it’s self and starts clapping it’s hands, and says

Oh Goodie, play time, I hope they have a Nethermancer, my favourite.

The horror will remain seated until the group enter the room and approach within 20 m. At which it will take to the air and attack who ever is nearest.

The puppet can walk out of the room. Estellac will pretend to attack Kallias but will actually try and help him

Examining the room Kor’Milan will sense the True Element Of For. Examining the fire alter in the middle will see that it appears to be Lava, peering further into the flames and heat he will then see the Golem contained within.

Need to figure out a way to retrieve it.

​Combat Options

Will fly over the fire so it can’t be attacked in Melee
Will fly high so it can’t be attacked in Melee
Use Damage Shift
Any Player who dies
Join me and live
Unnatural Life cast
Must make a Will Vs 10 Test to act as they please
Otherwise they will attack the group

Will try and plead with the group when close to Death

Please spare my life, what harm can I do here. Surely a worse fate than death is to remain a prisoner in this room?

Red Fonts Passage

You find yourselves in a small open area with two fonts on the opposite sides to each other. The liquid in the fonts looks like blood. Two silver bowls hang from the sides of each font. All bowls are plain and have no designs engraved on them.

As you get closer you hear a disembodied voice which you Believe to be…

Each person will hear a different sounding voice of a Passions that they prefer

Kallias: Mynbruje

Drink and the truth you seek shall be found

Vinessa: Vestrial

Drink and those you seek shall be found

Kor’Milan: Garlen

In a Man’s voice: Can roll perception to notice it’s not the same voice he has heard before

Feel my warmth and relax awhile

Yargai: Lochost

Can roll perception to notice it’s not the same voice he has heard before

Drink and be free for all time young one

They will all appear to be fine after drinking the water for 10 minutes then it will take effect. They will sit on the floor for a full day appearing to be paralysed to everybody else.

Going back to Garlens Temple and drinking from the Snake Bowl can cure the affliction​

TOUGHNESS DN = 10

Elemental Fire Spirit

As you come to a T junction you notice on the floor an intricate pattern that looks to be on fire, and as you approach a fiery figurer grows out of the centre of the circle.

The Fire Elemental wants you to free the Phoenix and itself. To do this they need to kill the Undead Phoenix, then take it’s dead body to the Fire Elemental Spirit.

The Fire Elemental Spirit can help but only offer this help if the group specifically ask or get stuck. It will advise them to coax it up the corridor and it will try and protect them from it’s Fiery abilities. It can not pass the runes on the floor

GM NOTES

I was extremely disappointed with this session for a multitude of reasons. The Horror combat was woeful it was supposed to be the highlight of the session and I ruined it by making the Suits Of Armour way to week. I was intending them to be one hit and dead, but I went too far and made them die with just a shove and a knock.

I’m very disappointed in this and so were some the players. Two players who were already disillusioned became doubly so after this fight. Although on one hand I don’t blame them, I still think it very rude to not bother to do things just because you’re pissed off. Yargai being a typical example and then drinking from the blatantly obvious poisoned fonts. I have cut significant portions of this Session, all are from the player Yargai as his sarcastic remarks and constant huffing and puffing are not want I want in my game.

I tried to talk with him after the game as I always do to garner feedback, unfortunately he wasn’t unable to provide feedback without getting angry and attacking me and my abilities personally. Due to this and the irreconcilable differences I had to ask the player to leave. I do not play this game to get into arguments. We can, and have managed to have many feedback sessions and I learn continually, unfortunately this player could not do this without personal attacks.

I wish I had been able to think up more imaginative reasons for the Air and Fire Spirits being here and how they could be released. But due to being aware that most players wanted out of here quickly I concentrated on other writing for when they leave, which will be next week, Session 21.

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Stephen Blower

I’m Stephen the author of this website and and the GM in The Circle Of Dawn campaign.

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