Tess, Thora and Remus go to the ruins of Xitaqa
===============================================
On the evening of 1029/11/14, Tess teleports back from talking to Loshad to
meet Thora and Remus at Misha's ferry. Thora transports us back via plants to
Sukiskyn. The inhabitants come out to meet Tess, Thora and Remus.
Pyotr is a man in his 40s, with a red beard, Darya is his wife. Also present
are Taras and Alfana, Irinia (17yo) and Matey (10yo) are Pyotr and Darya's
children. Kuzma is Pytor's mother (and a cleric), and has some healing
spells.
Thora casts Heal on Kalanos, who will take a while to heal mentally. Tess
leaves the Red Dragon tapestry and ruby with Taras. Taras is going to go and
speak to the guards in the nearby city and ask for help from the guards
there. Thora summons 4 shamblers that will attack anyone who attacks this
homestead.
Tess disguises himself as Danesh, the Sindhi trader. Tess then teleports
himself, Thora and Remus to the wolf lair where the jackal-headed statue is.
Rocks and fragments of chewed bones litter the floor. The body shape of the
statue is human, and the head is that of a jackal. However, jackals are not
found in this area. According to Thora's knowledge of religion,
jackal-headed statuettes have been found in other places - they appear to
be very old, archaeologists assume that they are of some old god that is no
longer followed.
Tess and Thora leave the cave. Tess releases his owl Aldara to scout around.
Tess starts climbing down the escarpment, Thora transforms into a pegasus
and transport Remus across the river. The river is wide and placid, and Tess
swims across it. After four hours of traveling towards Xitaqa, in the
distance we see the stub of a tower - a broken tower where Loshad said it
would be - at the bottom is a jumble of buildings. There is a fair bit of
cover as there are winding steep gulleys. It is now midday.
Tess sneaks about the ruins of Xitaqa for about 30 minutes, ahead of Thora
and Remus. There are winding gulleys, with buildings built into the sides
of the gulleys. There's probably more of the buildings inside the rock
walls. Tess gestures to Thora and Remus to stop. Aldara heads to the left,
Tess heads to the right. The buildings have bland windowless exteriors of
stone. There are the remains of cobbles but nothing else. Aldara sees a
group of five goblins crossing the street, going from one building to
another. Tess hears Goblins chatting from part way up the gulley about
having a pig or cow for dinner. The gulley Tess is in deadends, with a
building at the end, which may connect up with the building that Aldara
saw the goblins head into. The entire area is unusually desolate. Tess has
seen no birdlife around here.
Tess casts Invisibility and heads up around to the left to investigate the
tower. Tess hears animals from the western building, and there are animal
droppings around there - not guano, maybe dog or humanoid droppings. Tess
hears sounds of goblins in the buildings east and northeast of that. Tess
distantly hears screeches from the building in the north-east. Tess makes
his way through the building and finds a door. Tess uses Alter Self to
appear as a Goblin.
Tess and Aldara hear scuttling noises from something large inside the next
building. Tess enters. The area has rows and rows of shelves with scrolls on
them, and there are cobwebs everywhere, some thick cobwebs. There are no
goblin tracks. There is an exit on the other side, with stairs leading up.
Tess detects no magic. The scrolls look very old. Tess sees a giant spider
in the way of crossing to the other exit, but it does not see Tess. There
are stone double doors at the top which are closed, and appear to have been
closed recently judging by marks in the dust. Tess throws a pebble into the
spider webs to distract the spider, which goes to investigate. Tess slips
past the spider to check the other door, and slips out that door.
There are a big set of bronze double doors leading up into the tower area.
and good cover is provided from the plant material here for Tess to hide.
Tess sneaks up towards the tower. There are window holes in the tower. Tess
hears a sigh through one of the windows. Tess jumps in through the window
and sees five goblins in the central hallway of the tower. Tess says in
Goblin, "Me shouldn't be here," and the Hobgoblins tell Tess to beat it. Tess
jumps back out the window and heads off to meet Thora and Remus.
The library level with the scrolls was below this level of the tower. It was
probably the stone doubledoors there that connected up with one end of the
hallway in the tower.
Tess in Goblin form, Thora invisible as a Pixie, and Remus using a Potion of
Invisibility sneak up the righthand side, back to the library with the
spider. Thora successfully attempts to calm down the spider while we offer it
food. The scrolls where the spider is appear to be lists - one such list is
titled marriages and lists proper names and dates of the marriage. Tess casts
grease on the stone doors, we support them, and open the doors quietly.
The floor of the tower is tiled - they are dull now, but probably were once
bright. There are 2 statues of jackalheaded humans. Remus smells weird wolf.
The fountain appears to have been used for garbage. Remus growls quietly, a
voice comes from behind the other curtain (not the one where Remus smelled
wolf) saying in Hobgoblin "Calm down boy, calm down." There is a growl from
the west curtain. Tess heads to the north curtain, peering undr the curtain
to see a Hobgoblin fiddling with its banded mail laces in its bedroom. Thora
heads towards the left curtain to try and calm the wolf. Tess attacks, the
Hobgoblin is looking badly hurt after Tess hits him twice, sneak attacking
again. Thora casts Finger of Death at the hobgoblin, who survives.
The Hobgoblin rages, picking up a greataxe, and attacks Tess, inflicting
savage blows. The attack that missed Tess cleaves into the tiled floor.
A wolf with white fur, earring in its ear, looking unhappy, exits the other
curtain and breathes cold at Remus. Remus attacks the wolf in return, killing
the winter wolf. Tess tumbles out of the way of this bleeding, frothing
Hobgoblin, Tess puts on his shield. Thora casts Heal on Tess.
The Hobgoblin charges up and hits Thora. The door opens behind Thora - five
Hobgoblins are there. Two fire crossbows, one having opened the door, but
their quarrels miss Thora and Tess. Tess his the raging Hobgoblin again, who
shrugs off a Hold Person from Thora's Staff of Life. Remus kills one of the
Hobgoblins at the doorway. The Hobgoblin cleaves into Thora repeatedly with
his greataxe.
Two of the hobgoblins fire and miss with their crossbows at Remus. Remus
kills another hobgoblin and cleaves into the next one killing it. There is
one Hobgoblin left facing Remus. Tess attempts to disarm the raging
Hobgoblin, but he successfully attacks Tess through the opening. Tess slashes
the Hobgoblin again, there is no way this guy should still be standing. Thora
blesses a rune to stop the fighting: Tess feels calms, and suddenly the
raging Hobgoblin keels over and dies, clutching his chest. Thora heals Tess
and herself.
The raging Hobgoblin raging had strongly magical banded mail, a strongly
magical greataxe, and 2 magic potions (faint conjuration). The earring on
the winter wolf is moderately magical - abjuration (maybe fire resistance?).
The potions school of magic - faint conjuration. There is nothing magical on
the other hobgoblins, the sleeping nest for the winterwolf, nor the bedroom
for the hobgoblin.
Thora casts Barkskin on everyone. Upstairs there are barracks with eight
beds. Above each bed is a set of polished steel manacles. Tess unlocks a
footlocker at the bottom of one of the beds - 150gp money, 75gp silver-link
belt, human sized set of leather armor (looks not that new), longsword,
shortbow, and 15 arrows. The beds are of recent manufacture, from local
timber. Thora also casts Freedom of Movement on Tess.
As Tess opens a door to the next room, which appears bare, a muffled voice
yells look out. Tess closes the door mostly in response. Tess saw part of an
axe hit the door, but as the axe moved back through the door it
disappeared. Tess closes the door, moves back five feet, and casts Haste.
Remus steps into the room and loses sight of himself, and is attacked from
somewhere. Thora heads up and then casts True Seeing. Tess then casts Blink
on himself. Thora successfully casts Finger of Death on something in the room
which thuds to the ground - a minotaur according to Thora.
We hear a bang from upstairs. Remus walked into an invisible wall in this
room. We navigate the room by following Thora. Thora sees a human male tied
up on the ground. He says the prisoners upstairs have been taken away - it is
Stephan's voice. Stephan says, "Beware the person in the yellow robes."
Remus listens at the door at the top of the stairs. Tess casts True Strike.
Remus opens the door and charges into an art gallery - in the room are two
pink jackalheaded sculptures with looks of contempt. To Tess the room appears
a bit smaller than other floors. Remus and Tess shrug off some magic that
washes over them. Tess did not hear or see any spells being cast. Remus
smells tracks to the opposite side of the room - the tracks are far apart,
like someone was running - Remus stops at the wall. Tess walks through the
wall with Blink, and sees a small room on the other side, with a staircase
leading up. Tess opens the secret door from this side.
At the top is a room. There is lots of dust and smoke in the air (something
alchemical to Remus' nose). On the far side is a huge hole in the wall to
outside. The bed is made with splayed doors representing a dragon - badly
damaged by the bang. On the wall is a map of the local region with various
homesteads and crosses through them, except for Sukiskyn with a big circle
around it. Humanoid shaped chairs are here, and a large ironbound chest.
Stephan thanks us for rescuing him. Tess unlocks the chest: 5500gp x 2 sacks,
a potion, a jeweled amulet, a silver casket, an ebony box, and a scroll case.
The silver casket is worth 1400gp and has 15 gems inside: 1x5000 4x1000,
12x500gp. The ebony box is padded with velvet, and inside there is a magical
silver needle and a gold thread.
In the scroll case is a crumbling scroll. In a foreign language is written,
"I, Basitqet, high priestess, do command your return to Hutaaka. The stars
have changed and our power wanes. Strange creatures harry us from the
mountains and our people grow restless. We are stretched too thin. Bring
the treasures of the temples and the people of the lowlands to feed the
one. The sacred tapestries and your silver needles show the path."
Stephan says that the other prisoners were going to be sold into slavery.
First Stephan was taken to the Wolfskulls lair then was brought here. He was
being asked about the golden tapestries. They're hunting for some kind of
tapestries - possibly the ones hanging in the hall of Sukiskyn. The person
was a yellow-robed human. Tess searches the room carefully, and then we
teleport to Sukiskyn.
Sukiskyn organizes another feast, and the people are happy that Stephan has
been saved. Tess touches the needle and thread to the tapestry with
geometric patterns. The needle starts moving of its own volition, subtly
changing the tapestry. There is a glowing city on the map that pulsates, and
the dome on the top left pulsates. It is clear from the tapestry where the
golden thread has gone.
* 1 day passes: 1029/11/15 *
Threshold is a noted adventurer hangout. Stephan says why don't we sell the
horses, going by Rifilian, and then go on to Threshold. Tess gives Stephan
his equipment back.
Thora tries scrying on a description on one of the humans that had been
taken prisoner, and successfully scries on a lumberjack. We kill five thugs
and rescue the prisoners. The thugs were beating their horses. A black horse
comes galloping in and helps rescue the horses, he transforms back into
"centaur" form - it is Loshad. Loshad caused their horses to become
unmanageable, which caused them to beat their horses. Loshad directs us to
two more groups of slave traders, who Tess and Thora help take out, rescuing
the slaves and freeing the horses. There are 19 prisoners in total that we
freed. Tess shows Thora where Kelven is and Thora transports the former
slaves to the outskirts of Kelven.
* 1 day passes: 1029/11/16 *
We head down to Misha's ferry, across the northern plains. The next morning
we pass a ferry run by Gnomes. We meet a merchant caravan heading towards
Rifllian. They have 3 armored guards ahead, 24 wagons of 3 mules. Dozens of
guards. Tess talks to the caravan master - they are transporting spices,
silks, and velvets. Money changes hands and Tess hears some rumors from
Kelven: "A mage wearing yellow robes has been seen in Kelven. Soon after
that, there was a tall dark woman who was seen in that mage's company, That
woman was asking for information about us (with our descriptions). The
baron's daughter has run away with the captain of the guard. There is
increasing bandit activity on the road between Kelven and Threshold."
Thora disappears and brings back a gaggle of housewives who Thora bargains
for with the merchants.
Via a ford, we get to Rifflian. It is a small quaint wooden Elven village,
with almost all Elves. As we arrive, there is a 50' long riverboat with a
rearing unicorn on the sail, and an elf in a dazzling armor surcoat, leaving
as we arrive. The village is at the start of the forest - this is an Elven
trading village basically. We head into the village for Stephan to sell the
white horses. Along the way, a number of people offered to buy the horses as
they knew they would be of value in Rifllian. A Halfling by the name of
Stubbs Plattermann runs the inn. Tess asks for a mead, Remus gets an ale,
and Thora drinks honeymead imported from the Northern Reaches. There were
some friends here in Rifllian looking for Stephan: a woman with piercing
blue eyes, tall, and dark-haired - she was accompanied by several people
cloaked in big black robes. They left a few days ago.
* estimate 4 days pass: 1029/11/17-1029/11/20 *
Stephan sells the seven white horses to private citizens for 150gp each -
the Elves' symbol is a white horse, hence why the horses are valued. Tess
asks about the armor he is looking for, and the old times when humans used
to serve some other people. The humans tell a tale (a myth) ...
The Song of Halav
by George Hrabovsky
"Once there were, a long time ago,
a people blessed by the Immortals.
The Traldar were given the Great Forest."
"The Traldar lived simply and were happy,
they fished the sea and hunted the forest,
mostly they were fair and worshipped the Immortals."
"Unknown to men, a darkness had gathered,
far to the west, the beastmen grew.
They were coming for spoils, for land, and for slaves."
"The Immortals of the beastmen were matched
by those of the Traldar, they battled much
but neither side would yield, the battle was a draw."
"As one, on both sides it became clear,"
to avoid annihilation there was only one way,
the battle would be decided by mortals!"
"To Lavv, a village of men, now lost,
The Immortals came to find those to lead.
They chose clever youths to teach their secrets."
"Halav, Red-Hair, was the first to be chosen,
a maker of stone knives he was clever.
To make armour and arms of bronze he was taught."
"Lovely Petra, Halav's lover, was next in the line,
a maker of pottery and arts was she.
To make bows, to weave, and to heal did she learn."
"Wild Zirchev was last, the Immortals to see,
a master hunter and trapper was he.
The secrets of forests and beasts was he taught."
"The three, gathered by the Immortals, were told,
of the approach of the beastmen.
The three told their people, who refused to hear."
"The King of Lavv had the three brought to him,
he scoffed, and laughed, dishonouring all.
Halav slew him with a stroke of his bronze sword."
"King Halav, Queen Petra, and Zirchev the Hunter,
taught the people their secrets.
The villages joined and swelled into cities."
"Halav became a great hero, a just and kind ruler,
his fairness became widely known.
To him came all cities, a mighty nation was born."
"The tide of the beastmen then broke over them,
upon the bronze of their armour it broke.
The numberless horde had arrived, the war went on."
"As the eternal battle raged on, it was said,
for every gleaming suit that was rent,
a dozen of their dark foes had gone down."
"Then it happened, as the fates had required.
King Halav, in his bronze, found his great foe.
He was wolf-headed and twice the height of a man."
"The axe of the beast met the bronze sword of Halav,
the echoes rang out and all stopped to watch.
The two warriors danced, wove, and struck."
"For hours they fought, to the cheers of their soldiers,
both sides marvelled at the stamina shown.
Neither would yield and neither would fall."
"When neither could raise their weapons or move,
a halt was called and both rested and drank.
Halav spoke well of his foe, who spoke well of Halav."
"The two rose to fight, the tension was great,
they battled again, would it end this time?
The battle raged, then one final blow did they strike!"
"The two armies looked on, both clearly stunned,
the two leaders were dead, confusion reigned.
The beastmen faltered, the Traldars barely held."
"As the beastmen retired, Petra met Zirchev,
together they bore Halav home to Lavv.
In Lavv the pyre burned, the people wept."
"The three were seen no more by men,
Petra and Zirchev joined Halav.
The Immortals bore them away, to return again,
some day..."
The Elves have seen no sign of these creatures. King Halav, Queen Halav and
Zirchev the Hunter belted the crap out of them. The Elves called the
creatures beastmen. King Halav died killing the enemy guy. The humans were
taught by Halav and Queen Petra about pottery etc. Halav had shiny armor -
which was unusual for the time, hence the stories. The humans look on this
time as a golden age - powerful heroes, who had all sorts of arts and
crafts powers at their command. They reckon the armor would be at the site
of the battlefield or the village of Lavv. They don't know where Lavv is.
Thora suggests talking to a cleric of Petra, there are some in Karameikos.
Tess organizes T'saz to identify the items and legend lore the tapestry,
which gives: "Beasts retreat, beasts pursue, not all make it, to follow
through. Hidden valley, old wars rage."
Tess summary when talking to Grey:
Well, supposedly the humans here (the Traldar?) once served another
race. It's not clear what that race was. Tess has seen jackal headed
human statues, which appear to be the deities they worshipped, but
maybe those may represent the race (the beastmen? - though in the
Song of Halav, Halav's foe was wolf-headed). Somewhere in Karameikos,
thousands of years ago - around the time of the Halav, Petra and
Zirchev legend. Some place called Lavv, and some place called
Hutaaka. Not much more in the way of details than that.
Grey knows that the history of Karameikos was an oral one, until
Thyatian traders wrote down the song of Halav. The song of Halav deals with
Halav, Petra, and Zirchev. Unfortunately Grey doesn't really know more than
Tess does, as no one does. Lavv is mentioned in the song of Halav, but no
one knows where it is. Grey hasn't heard of Hutaaka. The early history of
Karameikos (the golden age of Traladara) is more myth than history though.
The beastmen in the song of Halav are gnolls.
Treasure summary
================
Magic items priced at half value.
Items from Hobgoblin Berserker and winter wolf
8,200 Banded Mail +4
9,160 Greataxe +3
750 Potion of Cure Serious Wounds x2
14.000 Ear ring of Fire Resistance, Major
From footlocker at one of the beds (was all of this stuff Stephan's?):
150 money
75 silver link belt
Chest in yellow-robed wizard's room:
11,000 in 2 sacks
- Potion of Delusion
17,500 Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
1,400 silver casket
50 ebony box
15,000 gems (1x5000gp, 4x1000gp, 12x500gp)
- crumbling ancient scroll ("High Priestess commands return to Hutaka")
-110 information on who was looking for Tess, Thora, Remus, and Stephan
=======
77,175gp total
25,725gp each
What Tess would like:
375gp Potion of Cure Serious Wounds x1
17,500gp Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location
7,850gp
========
25,725gp