Recap From 8.22.2020 - What's in the Box!?

After taking out a Beholder Zombie and his minions, the party heard a commotion coming from the the

next chamber and notice the entrance has runes marking the doorway in both Elvish and Dwarvish - "Temple of the Sun".  Upon entering the room you see a large cut out that once allowed sun to shine this far down into the cave.  The now gloomy temple has two humans and a small demon - Algathr'oth.  

Upon seeing the demon, Shardon immediately fell victim to temporary madness - manifesting itself as an unceasing compulsion to berate the mistakes of others.  The two humans - Warlocks of the Fiend, began to beckon Zofia to join them in the service of the demon present.  While Zofia was able to resist the call, she found herself unable to attack the Warlocks.

The demon asked for the Infernal Puzzle Box, but the party decided to tell it to kick rocks.  

Forgotten by the crappy DM - The demon should have asked Elric in his harsh, metallic voice, "The Aasimar must not care!  Why would he allow others to touch the puzzle? He must not know what it contains!" 

A battle ensued that included Volok dealing some heavy damage.  At one point the demon felt threatened enough to summon a Manticore, but its was almost immediately charmed by Isabrix.  One by one our heroes fell, succumbing to fireball after fireball.  Finally when it looked like all was lost, Volok struck a deal for the lives of his friends, surrendering the puzzle box.  He witnessed the box open and saw the contract it contained.  The foes vanished and he slowly nursed the group back to help.

*Clarification - Volok's axe he flung into the fire was instantly melted by the infernal fire.  Anyone that might have been flung into the fire would have been badly hurt. 

Emerging from Wave Echo Cave, the group is met by a Sending Spell in the form of a fiery bird - 

"We need to talk,  Things are worse than I feared.  If you can, please return to my home.

The realm depends on it."

The message is spoken the the recognizable voice of Zarturian, your ally just northeast of Phandelin.  When you return to his house he hurriedly greets you and lets you know that he wasn't completely up front with his history.  You did indeed save him from the Oblex, but he wasn't merely a collector of magic, but one of 7 self-anointed guardians of the realm.  They made it their business to make sure the land is not interfered with by extra-planar threats.  The other six guardians are scattered throughout the land and are equally indebted to the party for saving Zarturian.  Their current view - evil is saturating the land - almost as if Avernus has been opened.  

The party learned of several allies - 

• A male dwarf - Vandeam Frostbeard - located 300 miles north - Vandeam has observed the wood elves to the west of him gearing up and acting even less friendly to strangers.  The yetis to the east are restless and seem to be moving south.  The Frost Giants are less and less visible on the tundras.
• Jesica Galpsi - a female halfing 300 miles southeast of Zarturian - she's noticed the wood elves (numbering 300-500) and the High Elves (maybe 50-60) forming an uneasy alliance.  Both constantly monitor the Kobold lands to the east.
• A male half-orc, Krirve - located 550 miles SE - he's noticed dragons grouping to the west - the are flying at night, so he's unsure of the coloring
• A female wood elf, 700 miles southeast - Keishara Chaexina - she's monitoring the dwarves to the east moving from their villages to the mines in the mountains (this is typically a defensive move)
• A friendly male Kobold - Cley Keenfang - he has seen what he describes as evil amassing in the wastelands known as Anaurach - the glow everyone is seeing seems to be coming from the Everwinter Woods

Finally, Marmag, a gith was last located 1000 miles east southeast of Zarturian.  Z had just visited Marmag right before the mindflayers planted the Oblex in his new home.  He is very concerned something has happened to him.  

He also alerts you to the fact of the existence of a natural wall, a plateau if you will directly east, about 1000 miles away.  It would block any travel directly to Everwinter Woods due to its immense height (500 feet) and length (600 miles).

Upon hearing this info - Isabrix - decided to take off for Frostbeard - hearing he would have weaponry for the fighters in the group.  She currently has the Bag of Holding and has taken the form of a wolf to speed toward her destination.  Travis is flying above her.  (Note - Elric doesn't have his telepathic connection due to distance, however Izzy does have a telepathic connection as long as Travis is within 100 feet.  Travis is always able to find Elric, no matter the distance and can fly 100 miles a day if he pushes it)

The rest of the party is getting ready to head to Neverwinter to prep for the long journey.

Coming up Thursday...

Sky as you entered Tresendar Manor

• How are you going to find Wave Echo Cave?

• Bloodstaff is dead but how about his apprentices?

• Anybody want to try that box?

• Sky sure does look weird...

Recap 7.31.2020 - Neverwinter? How about Never Fight?

After a short discussion with Reidart the party headed to Neverwinter where Kali and Zofia opened accounts at the Iron Bank (450 gp each) and the group visited a couple of taverns to learn a little bit about the weird warm weather a red hue to the sky.  Kali asked around about an Elvin Temple and learned that while there was no temple in town, the woods nearby were known to have elves.  Quite in the middle of a conversation, Travis returned with the formerly green, now black magically locked box.  Zartarian sent word that try as he might, he was unable to open it, he did know that it was an Infernal Puzzle Box.  After a quick web search Kali informed everyone:

An infernal puzzle box is a cube-shaped container 5 to 6 inches on a side, composed of airtight,

interlocking parts made from materials found in the Nine Hells. Most of these boxes are made of infernal iron, though some are carved from bone or horn. Infernal puzzle boxes are used to safeguard diabolical contracts signed between devils and mortals, even after the terms of these contracts are fulfilled. An empty infernal puzzle box weighs 3 pounds regardless of the materials used to fashion it.

When an object small enough to fit inside an infernal puzzle box is placed in it, the container magically seals shut around the object, and no magic can force the box open. The sealed box becomes immune to all damage as well. Every infernal puzzle box is constructed with a unique means of opening it. The trick to solving the puzzle is always mundane, never magical. Once a creature figures out the trick or sequence of steps needed to open a particular infernal puzzle box, that creature can open the box as an action, allowing access to the box's contents.

A creature that spends 1 hour holding an infernal puzzle box while trying to open it can make a DC 30 Intelligence (Investigation) check. If the check succeeds, the creature figures out the trick or sequence of steps needed to open the box. If the check fails by 5 or more, the creature must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw, taking 42 (12d6) psychic damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one.

After a short shopping spree and time in the wizard shop, the crew went to the local House of Chance and won some gold and lost some gold. After a night's sleep, the crew took out for Reidart's place so he could show them to Wave Echo Cave completely forgot Reidart was going to show them where the entrance to Wave Echo Cave was and decided to exact some revenge on Bloodstaff.

After carefully crafting a plan to bind the vampires in a Magic Circle the party ran in, ready to bring the pain.  Hannahlore successfully cast the spell, but only captured Bloodstaff and one apprentice.  Apprentice number 2 foolishly ran in the middle of the group and quickly died.  Bloodstaff dominated Hannahlore and the Magic Circle dropped.  After Bloodstaff's second underling misted away, Bloodstaff cast Invisbility.  Folks slapped the crap out of Hannalore and Shardon's guardian jumped rope to discover the Vampire's location.  Bloodstaff tried to put the party to sleep which led to more slapping.  Finally Kali cast Sunbeam from a Chardalyn stone that caused Bloodstaff to not only die but he was utterly destroyed by the sunlight she cast.  

What happened to the apprentices?  How will they find Wave Echo Cave?  What's with the puzzle box?  Things are really heating up!

7.26.2020 Recap

As morning broke, Zofia and Volok emerged from the early mists and were brought up to speed on what they missed by remaining with Kost.

After the hearing of Shardon's turn, the group decided it best to carry him in Zofia's bag of holding so they could travel during the day.  They took out for Agatha's house to present her with the Silver Comb of her sister.  On the way they visited Zartarian to check on this progress on both the strange blue

Zartarian

substance and their magic box.  He reported that work continued on the box but he did discover some secrets on the blue ore, chardalyn.  They had procured 8 (not 10) stones.

A single chardalyn could absorb one spell, which was released when the stone was crushed or destroyed. This was a natural ability of the substance and did not require any magical preparation or treatment beforehand. The spell stayed encased in the chardalyn indefinitely—it could be released seconds or centuries later. Usually, the spell was cast with the chardalyn as the target and it was absorbed without fail, but an empty chardalyn had a slightly better than even chance to absorb a spell that did not target it directly, as long as it was in the spell's area of effect. Once a chardalyn was imbued with a spell, additional spells had no effect on the stone. When shattered, the attributes (power, volume, duration, damage, etc.) of the spell were unchanged and the focal point was the exact location where the breakage occurred. Empty nuggets are considered nearly priceless, with full values depending on spell level contained.

The team learned that Zartarian was a pretty powerful wizard, knowing 7th level spells in all the different schools of magic.  

Hannalore asked the team and Zartarian if she could make use of his library for a short while to research vampirism and hopefully find a "cure" for Shardon, a term he found quite offensive.

She returned with bleak news.  The only way to revert the half-ling to his living form was to destroy his vampire form and use Resurrection to revive him.  Never mind that your DM stupidly gave you access to a 7th level necromancer just minutes ago.  He totally meant to do that.  The fact that he called it True Resurrection, an impossibly difficult 9th level spell also was totally his plan all along.

This kicked off a spirited discussion that pit Volok, Izzy and Shardon against Hannalore, Kali, Zofia, and Elric on whether or not they should kill him right then and there and have Zartarian resurrect him.  Kali and Elric even tussled briefly with Shardon, but to no avail.

Ultimately, Kali grew weary of the argument and declared a pin was to be put in the subject.  An agreement was made that Zartarian could keep a chardalyn stone for his collection and also imbued a stone with what was definitely Resurrection and gave it to Volok for safe keeping.

From there the party journeyed to Agatha's house and upon approaching her all the hair they had

Auglatha Restored

combed with the silver comb glowed blue.  Agatha asked if they had the comb and after a short, "What's it worth to you" conversation, Kali tossed her the comb.

As she held they Silver Comb it glowed a bright blue. Upon touching it she returned to her former beauty and told this story:

Agatha was actually Auglatha Melarue.  Her family were the rightful owner's of Cragmaw Castle.  The castle has a secret sanctum.

The Melarue Family secret sanctum served several purposes. This was where Auglatha’s father, Quarion Melarue, kept his private study. It also housed a more intimate private shrine to Sehanine Moonbow as well as the sacred Well of the Moon). Finally, this was a refuge area for family members to keep safe should the keep ever fall under attack.

Auglatha’s lover, Gwinforth the human bard, learned of the sanctum’s location through Auglatha. Betraying her trust, he shared the story with Taz'gan a demon with whom he was in league. When the family retreated into the sanctum, Gwinforth opened it up, and Taz'gan laid waste to the chamber, killing the whole family except Auglatha who had by luck had been gathering medicinal herbs in the woods, and Garaele, her infant sister who was asleep in her nursery upstairs.

When Auglatha faced Gwinforth to attack him, the bard pulled the sword from her hands with a telekinesis spell, and sent it straight back at her heart (and she points to the dark hole where her heart once was). Inside the black hole in her chest is the Moonblade, the Melarue family heirloom and sacred sword.

She starts sobbing both out of repressed grief and of relief. She had believed that she was blameless in the tragedy that befell her family, and refused to acknowledge the fact that she had divulged family secrets to an outsider. Having finally come to terms with with fact with the help of the silver truth, she is set free.

As a thanks to the party, Auglatha reaches into the black hole in her chest and pulls out her family blade. The black hole where it had been starts to slowly seal. She then disappears, free.

Upon her exit - Hannalore and Volok investigate the home (Carri rolls a 20) and the party finds:

Potion of...	Rarity	HP Regained
Healing	Common	2d4+2
Greater Healing	Uncommon	4d4+4
Supreme Healing	Very rare	10d4+20

Potion of Diminution

Potion of Storm Giant Strength

Cloak of Elvenkind

Instrument of the Bards (Canaith mandolin)

Wand of Polymorph

Holy Avenger (Great Sword)

Ring of Djinni Summoning

Rod of Absorption

Magic Great Axe

Ring of Fire Elemental Command

Magic Half Plate Armor

Staff of Fire

Berserker Great Axe

Longsword of Vengeance

After returning to Zartarian's home to get all of the loot identified the team took out for Thundertree to"Do Something".  Upon arrival they killed some twig blights and ash zombies before meeting Reidoth, a cleric in the Emerald Enclave.  He asks you to help run off or kill the dragon and get rid of the "pantywaist" cultists.  He is very gruff but he does know where Wave Echo Cave is.

After a short battle with Venomfang the young green Dragon, he cedes defeat and flies away leaving you a sizable treasure.

PS - Auglatha would have told you where Cragmaw Castle is....I forgot that.

PPS - You guys sent Travis (cat sized) after a green dragon (bus sized)

PPPS - I'm sure everything is fine...

Catch Up to 7.26.2020 Session

Shardon, Kali, Elric, and Isabrix all know a dwarf named Gundren Rockseeker.  He asked each of the
individually to aid him in getting supplies to Phandalin, where they were paid 10gp for there service.
On the way they happen across a goblin ambush that leads them to a hideout where they rescue Sildar
Hallwinter.

He relays some info:

• The three Rockseeker brothers (Gundren, Tharden, and Nundro) recently located an entrance to the long-lost Wave Echo Cave, site of the mines of the Phandelver's Pact. Klarg, the bugbear who leads this goblin band, had orders to waylay Gundren. Sildar heard from the goblins that the Black Spider sent word that the dwarf was to be brought to him. Sildar doesn't know who or what the Black Spider is.
• Gundren had a map showing the secret location of Wave Echo Cave, but the goblins took it when they captured him. Sildar believes that Klarg sent the map and the dwarf to the chief of the Cragmaws at a place called Cragmaw Castle. Sildar doesn't know where that might be, but he suggests someone in Phandalin might know.
• Sildar's contact in Phandalin is a human wizard named Iarno Albrek. The wizard traveled to the town two months ago to establish order there. After the Lords' Alliance received no word from Iarno, Sildar decided to investigate.
• He intends to continue on to Phandalin, since it's the nearest settlement. He offers to pay the party 50 gp to provide escort. Although he has no money on him, Sildar can secure a loan to pay the characters within a day after arriving in Phandalin. First, he hopes they'll put a stop to the goblin raids by clearing out the caves.

Travis the Pseudodragon

After you got to Phandalin You met Zofia and Volok,  You helped Elric get some family info from a strange house her learned of in a letter and met Travis the pseudodragon. Then you went back to the bar after swinging by the Shrine of Luck and drank. Hannalore was in the tavern the next morning and, while interested in the party, didn't seem to trust anyone.

Then you explored the town. You talked to a farmer. Decided to hit the old owl well.

Hamun Kost

You met a necromancer named Hamun Kost and avoided a fight with him. He said he could trade information for a favor and asked you to exterminate some orcs and ask a banshee a question. On the way you met Zartarian and rescued he and his family from an Elder Oblex and the next morning were given some gifts and told you were always welcome at his home.

Agatha the Banshee

Next you went and exterminated the orcs and asked the banshee the question .  You also learned that Agatha the Banshee knew a lot and used to be an elf.  She told you she needed Sister Garaele’s Silver Comb. Then you went back to the old owl well to deliver the news to Hamun Kost and he gave you some information.

Kost let you know that three years have passed since you met. He tells you that Tressdoor Manor is very dangerous and has changed a lot in the last three years. He thinks that the wizard there (known as Bloodstaff has two apprentices. He also knows that a group of dragon cultists and a dragon at Thundertree ruins and the dragon has been terrorizing the Sword Coast. Volok and Zofia stayed with Kost to help him finish up, he gave you a magic substance (5 lbs) and the party ex Volok and Zofia, left.

The Party decided swing by Zartarian’s house for rest and to see if he discovered what was in the box (no) and see if he knew what the blue magic crystal you got from Kost was (he said he’d have to study it).

Bloodstaff

The party continued back to Phandalin, got the comb from Sister Garaele and drank from the luck shrine.  They went through a few buildings in the now deserted town and finally decided to the Manor.  While in town they experienced a weird mist.  When they decided to try to rest in Tressdoor the same mist seemed to try to attack Hannalore.  The party found the wizard “Bloodstaff” and had a brief encounter.  During said encounter, Shardon got lippy and was bitten by a Vampire hard enough to turn him.  They retreated to the woods and buried Shardon.  At some point they sent Travis to go get V and Z.  The next sundown Shardon emerged as a Vampire Spawn.  V and Z should arrive in a few hours.  The party is hunkering down in Hannalore’s Daern's Instant Fortress until they arrive.