Want to help? Consider becoming a Patreon.

• Aros – Lightfoot Halfling, Rogue
• Galiena Erenaeth – Half Elf, Celestial Warlock / Druid
• Baldur – Human, Pack Chain Warlock (Spear) / Paladin
  • Hellina Kaitlyn Deramu – Human NPC, Wererat
• Wickedstraza – Dragonborn (Bronze), Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline) – Not present

Aros, Galiena, Baldur, Kavium and Ramgor make their way back to The White Fang after helping the Tritons defeat the Sahaugin – and the people of Felhorn celebrate their victory (and that they’re still alive – the people of Felhorn needing very little reason to celebrate; always looking for just one more reason to raise their tankards and consume more alcohol than they probably should).

Galiena quickly goes upstairs, gets the bottle of Vikarus, returns downstairs and thrusts it into Baldur’s hands, and spins on her heels and begins heading back up. She hears Baldur start to say something, and without stopping, holds out her hand to silence him and continues up the stairs. Once she gets up the stairs, she locks the door and leans her back against it and exhales a long sigh of relief as she stairs at the bathtub. Dearbhán pokes his head out from beneath her bed, where its clear, from a few dangling items that he’s been hiding an assortment of things he’s “acquired” (undoubtedly while invisible and going out the window to see what he can find).

As she unrobes, and puts her foot in the bathtub, when suddenly a knock comes to the door. She holds her breath as if even her exhaling might give away that she’s in the room. There’s silence… then the knock. And a familiar voice calls out from the other side of the door, which belongs to none other than Kavium, “Excuse me – that wasn’t our date was it?”

She makes a face at Dearbhán, and speaks through the door, “No, I did promise to have a drink with you. But I never got the bath I was trying to have!” (See Session 15! On going joke of delaying her bath!)

Kavium’s sultry voice oozes through the door, “If you need help getting rubbed down, or reaching those… hard to reach spots, I’d gladly help.”

Galiena rolls her eyes, while looking at Dearbhán. “No,” she finally says, exasperated through the door. “I just want a chance to relax these weary bones – between dealing with Sirens, Sahaugin, waterfalls, spirits, turtles, ocean water, sand, dirt – I just want a moment to myself to relax.”

Kavium gives an audible sigh from the other side of the door and his footsteps can be heard leaving as he says, “I will wait for you downstairs.”

Kavium reaches the main floor and sees Baldur and Aros drinking heavily. He sees Galiena’s previous date, also sitting with them. He makes his way there and sits at the table with them – as they suddenly stand up – and cheer, “To the fish house!” And begin going from table to table, shouting, “To the fish house!” and doing shots of Vikarus with the patrons. The patrons quickly embrace this behavior (never needing a reason to celebrate, and the fact that Vikarus is normally an expensive drink!) As they move from table to table, Kavium looks at Ramgor (unaware that Aros – successful Sleight of Hand – is pouring bits of Vikarus into Kavium’s mild ale) and says, “You were on a date with Galiena for almost two weeks. It’s fair that I get an equal amount of time with her, as well!”

Ramgor slurred, “That’s up to the fair lady to see how long she can tolerate you.”

There seemed to be a moment of intensity, which was washed away, when Baldur, who hadn’t heard the exchange cheered, “To the fish house!” And the small group moved to the next table to do shots.

After several more rounds, and realizing they’d gone to all the tables, Baldur cheers, “To the fish house!” And actually proceeds to go out the door with Aros, Kavium, Ramgor and a random drunken patron all following close behind. They manage to successfully stumble to the home of Jarick Steelfisher – who is quite surprised to see the drunken people gathering outside his home shouting, “To the fish house!” Opening the door, he welcomes them in where Baldur sees the Triton they’d helped, Reeku.

Reeku, still wrapped in bandages, barely manages to stand and bow, “I must thank you for helping my people. Jarick,” he gestures to the fisherman to the side, who beams with pride, his wife and two sons standing behind him, “told me you were able to free the giant sea turtle, Korius, from the clutches of the evil Sahuagin Priestess.”

“We have good news, we didn’t kill your friend,” Baldur cheers. “Also, knowing that the turtle was your friend, would have been good information to have.”

“Oh,” Reeku explains, “we did not know how the Sahaugin had gained control of Korius – so we were not sure if he could be saved. So if you would have had to put him to the sea bottom (aquatic way of saying ‘death’) then we would have understood. We knew the Priestess had something to do with it – but we were not even certain if killing her would have freed Korius.”

“Oh, yeah,” Baldur waves at the air, “there was a larger human – sitting on the beach. He’d said that he crash landed on the island – something to do with the weird magic here – and that his magical sleigh lost power on the beach – and he kept his bag of holding – but in the crash, had lost his reigns – and that those reigns allow someone the ability to control any animal. So it looks like the Sahaugin got it – slapped that on Korius – and gained control of him. But we climbed up Korius’ back – well,” Baldur thinks back, “some of us climbed on Korius’ back – and we took down that Priestess and got the reigns and gave it to the jolly man on the beach.” Baldur gives it some thought, “You know, he didn’t even give us money for recovering those reins now that I think about it.”

“Reward,” Reeku sits up. “Yes,” he says, as if reminded of something he’d forgotten. “Let not my people be of the same shame. Come with me.” Reeku takes the party back out to the beach, where deceased Sahaugin and blood still crash in the tide, victims of the Korius’ fury once he’d been freed of the magical reins. Reeku holds his hands to his mouth and emits a high pitched sound, and after a moment, two other Tritons come ashore. Reeku speaks to them in their native language of Aquan. The two Tritons bow and return to the sea, and Reeku turns to the others and whispers, “A moment, please.”

After a few minutes, the two Tritons return, holding a chest adorned in sea jewels and sea shells, worth easily 100 gold – but inside, the party discovers six, very large clams.

With great effort – due to their intoxication – both Baldur and Aros manage to cut themselves when they each opened one. Inside they found delicious clam meat, but more importantly a pearl valued at 500 gold pieces. Blurry eyed, Aros counted the six total clams – and assumed 2 per each (2 for Aros, 2 for Baldur, 2 for Galiena – and failed to take into account that Kavium was there as well… but Kavium was too intoxicated to notice at the moment, and money has never been his concern since arriving at Eaglerock). But Aros and Baldur opened one more, and again, in each – found delicious clam meat and another pearl worth 500 gold.

Aros asks Reeku about a recipe for eating the clams, and the Triton shrugs and says, “In the sea, we simply eat it raw. But I understand you surface dwellers cook much of your meat. The cooks at the White Fang are well versed in how you surface dwellers eat the meat of clam.”

“Is there any side effects to eating clam?” Aros asks.

“Not among the Tritons,” Reeku shrugs.

“That’s oyster you’re thinking of,” Kavium slurs and winks at Aros. (Referencing that oysters are said to be an aphrodisiac for males).

A few moments later at the White Fang, as Galiena relaxes in her bath, the warm, bubbling water embracing her and soothing the aches and scratches she’d earned the numerous times she’d taken a fall or tumbled – there was a rapping on her door, that was chaotic, followed by the slurred voices of her companions, “Galiena!” Baldur called through the door, “We have something for you!”

“And he’s not the only one!” Kavium’s slurred voice added, followed by giggling from Baldur and Aros.

“Your door’s locked! How can I show you the good news?” Baldur calls out through the door.

“Is it locked?” Aros asks, loudly.

Baldur gives a jiggle of the lock. “It is,” he says, shouting, though Aros is next to him.

“I can open it like I did that one time I got her unmentionables and sold it to the elf guy,” Aros says, than giggles, recalling that whole ordeal. (Yes! That really happened! See Session 7).

Galiena shakes her head and looks at Dearbhán, “Remind me why I am with those two? Oh, that’s right – because the gods are punishing me by shipwrecking me on the island with them,” she muttered, as she slowly stood, grabbed her towel and dried herself off, wrapping the towel around her body, and placing the ends firmly beneath the arms as she slowly opened the door. “What?”

“We have freshly de-boned clams,” Baldur says, thrusting the opened, small chest towards her. “Look!”

“Clams do not have bones,” Galiena sighs.

“Yes, they do, look,” Baldur then held up one of the large pearls.

Recalling that she’d last heard them drunk – she grows concerned, and says, “Give me a minute,” and closes the door and rapidly throws on a robe and swings the door open. “Where did you get this and who do we have to return it to?”

“The fish people gave it to us,” Baldur explains. “As a reward for helping them. These last two clams are yours. Aros and I figured out, you have to cut your hand opening the first to be able to open both of them.” However, when Galiena successfully opens both clams – revealing clam meat and a pearl worth 500 gold in each one – both Aros and Baldur exchange confused glances, as she didn’t do the proper ritual to open the clams.

The glistening pearl gets Dearbhán’s attention who flies to Galiena’s shoulder and coo’s in her ear. She hands one of the pearls to Dearbhán and explains he can have it; he quickly grabs it and begins batting it around on the floor like a toy, until it rolls under the bed, where he’s stored a number of other small items he’s acquired. Baldur looks at the empty, ornate, sea shell covered small chest and hands it to Galiena, shrugging, “Dearbhán can use this as a bed.” Once again, Dearbhán’s head perks up and he coos happily as Galiena sets it on the dresser for him to lay in.

“Doesn’t the meat in the clams look delicious?” Baldur slurs.

“It does,” Galiena says. “I bet the cooks downstairs -“

Kavium then blurts, “Speaking of delicious meat!” And playfully punches Baldur in the arm, while giggling entirely too loudly.

Galiena takes a deep breath.

Baldur looks at Kavium, “You like clam?”

“I love eating clam,” he giggles loudly again.

Galiena again, takes a deep breath and sighs. “Well,” she says, tugging on her robes, “I am going to get dressed – so, you guys can go now.”

“Even me?” Kavium winks.

“Especially you,” Galiena smiles, and shoves him out the door.

After getting dressed, Galiena heads down to the tavern portion of the White Fang and sees her companions going from table to table, doing shots with other patrons while cheering, “To the fish house!” Galiena approaches Servana Deelyon, the waitress at White Fang, and asks how long they’ve been doing that. And Servana explains that they’ve been doing it since they came downstairs.

Gergie Woodfire, the owner of The White Fang, points to Kavium, “So he’s next on your dating list? You should do another one of those games? Quite profitable for me – despite a burnt stage and some broken furniture.” (See Session 7 for the chaos of the “Dating Game”)

Galiena blushes and laughs, “I barely survived my first date, and,” she glances over her shoulder and looks at Kavium, “I am not sure he’s going to survive my second date.” She smiles at Servana, “Can you bring a fruit plate up to my room for Dearbhán.”

Servana smiles, “Of course.”

“You will be safe to take it into the room,” Galiena adds, “he has a new toy that I gave him that should keep him occupied. Also, can I get a glass of wine for the table over there,” she points to the empty table as she makes her way there.

Gergie nods, “Naturally, and because of all the revenue you’ve brought, consider it on the house.”

Galiena makes her way to the table and sits as Servana brings the bottle of wine. (Fun DM Fact – at this point, I had Galiena roll a D20 – and said “1 through 10, Kavium joins you. 11 or higher, something else happens.” She rolled a 6. Had she rolled 11 or higher, it would have been Ramgor who joined her at the table, just to create some fun tension!) Kavium, spotting Galiena now seated at a table, stumbles to make his way over – after using others to keep him on his feet as he swayed this way and that way – until he reached the table and oozed into the seat, smiling at Galiena.

He leans forward and coyly smiles, “Hello my love,” his words slurring from his crimson lips. “You look fabulous.” (In hindsight, I should have made his drunken word “marvelous” because character/personality wise he reminded me of this character portrayed by Billy Crystal).

Galiena smiles, “I … assume you’ve been having a wonderful time so far?”

Kavium smiles, “Indeed, I have,” his breath is thick with the smell of Vikarus. “Your friends,” he points somewhere behind him, “they’re fabulous. We were having a fabulous time. You look fabulous.”

“I am glad that everything’s… fabulous in your life,” Galiena laughs.

“Is that wine? I do love wine!” he slurs.

Galiena quickly refills her glass before allowing Kavium to have some.

Galiena braces for the answer to her question as she sips the wine and asks, “So what did you have planned for this date of ours?”

“Well,” Kavium raises an eye brow and tries to lean forward, but his head seems to be swirling in his mind, so he simply braces himself against the table and says, “funny you should ask… I have this fabulous room… just a few doors down from your own… I’d love to show you my room… and more.“

Galiena calls for Servana Deelyon who puts herself between Galiena and Kavium – all too familiar with Kavium’s faith – and the pleasure he has constantly sought and gained since arriving at Eaglerock. She looks at Galiena and says, “What do you need? I can do whatever you want? I can tell people they’ve had enough and either leave or go back to their rooms? Whatever you need, just let me know.”

Galiena nods, giving her a knowing look, and says, “That’d be great. Also, do you have any food?”

Servana Deelyon goes down the list of food they offer, and Galiena orders some food, with Kavium slurring, “That sounds fabulous! I’ll order the same!”

From across the room, Aros tries to make out how Galiena’s date is going; and while the room seems to sway this way and that, he hangs onto a table for balance, squinting his eyes to try and focus. Baldur, also intoxicated, looks at Aros and gets down to his halfling height and whispers – or so he thinks – loudly – and asks, “Whachya doin’?”

“Trying to see how her date is going,” Aros slurs the words.

“Oh,” Baldur peers in Galiena’s direction.

Galiena sees them both looking at her – mostly because they’ve gone quiet and hadn’t shouted “To the fish house!” in about a minute. When they see that she’s looking at them, Aros grabs Baldur’s leg – then does a thumb up and thumb down to her. (DM Note – Aros had wanted to hug himself and give a thumbs up/down to ask if the date was going well – I had him roll Performance at Disadvantage since he was intoxicated – and he rolled low – so I decided, rather than hugging himself – he hugged Baldur’s leg – then did the thumbs up/down).

“We should wish Kavium luck,” Baldur says, swaying as he tries to stand upright again. “How should we deal with this?”

“I could steal the ingredients of the food?” Aros giggles.

“That kitchen is way too busy, someone’s going to see you,” Baldur manages to have a coherent thought. He suddenly smiles, “I have an idea! I am going to cancel their order as Servana Deelyon! I will use Disguise Self to look like her!” He moves near the kitchen, and waits for her to come out – before sticking his head inside – using the spell, and tries to mimic her voice using Minor Illusion, shouting to cancel the order. (DM Note – This was a fun idea, and had him roll a Peformance to “sound” like her with the Minor Illusion). And as he comes out, Baldur pats Kavium on the shoulder and says, “Good luck,” while casting Guidance on Kavium.

Galiena stares as Baldur walks by.

Thirty minutes goes by and Servana Deelyon visits the table and sees that their food hasn’t come out – and she goes to the kitchen and shouts about the food. Galiena hears the bickering back and forth, hearing Servana Deelyon shouting that she did not cancel the food order for the table, and after a moment, returns to Galiena’s table and apologizes that there must have been some kind of misunderstanding in the kitchen. Galiena’s eyes lock with Baldur and Aros, who can be seen, standing in the corner, drunkenly pointing towards her and Kavium.

“I don’t think she’s happy,” Aros giggles.

“Yeah, I don’t think canceling the order was the right way to go,” Baldur snickers.

Galiena realizes that her companions are undoubtedly behind the mischief and she turns her attention towards Kavium again. “So, Kavium, tell me about yourself.”

At this – Kavium seems to sober up, as his expression goes serious and he slips back to an older memory. “I was born like this,” he gestures to himself, “or as far as I remember, I always looked like this. The son of some demon or devil… my parents, I never knew them… my earliest memory was being young, and on the streets, trying to survive… seeing other… normal people, who walked by me, as if I was invisible, so in love … people holding hands… people kissing… people being affectionate… and that’s all I had wanted. I wanted to be loved. Something I’d never known in my life. And I remember, there were some bullies, picking on another child… a normal child, not even someone who looked like me – and I stepped in, because I loathed seeing people full of hate… and I defended this child, which I didn’t even know – because I didn’t want them to feel like no one loved them. I fought off six people, all by myself. This was the first time I didn’t feel invisible, because after the fight, I was approached by a Paladin of Prenah – who then told me about the Order of Prenah and that I would be a good fit – because I showed compassion and longing for love. I joined the Order, and they showed me my self worth – and allowed me to grow. And when I was older, they told me how loving just one person isn’t the way – that we should love and embrace all – because every person we meet,” and Kavium pointed around the room, “can show us something new when we’re intimate with them.”

“Like many followers of Prenah, I have laid both with woman and man, to learn as much as I can about being loved, and the art of making love,” he shrugged.

Galiena nods, “That’s… a lot. Pardon me, I need to go to the powder room, I will be right back.” She quickly excuses herself from the table and meets with Servana Deelyon and asks, “What do you know of Kavium?”

Servana Deelyon confirms that as a Paladin of Prenah, that the residents of Felhorn were perfect for Kavium’s belief; as many tend to enjoy one another’s embrace, living as if each day may be their last since many have been “taken by the mist.” Galiena nods, “From what he said, he had a difficult childhood that led him to the Order of Prenah, where he became one of their Paladins. But I am not sure I am ready to ‘learn anything new in the bedroom’ with him, as he’s suggesting. I’m hoping since he’s been drinking with my companions that maybe he just passes out.”

Servana Deelyon smirks, “I can make sure he passes out. There’s herbs that grow not too far that can do just that. I’ve used it on drunk patrons to knock them out so they’re easier to remove from the tavern.”

Galiena smiles, “I will give you a signal if it comes to that. I will ask for a tart with my meal. In the meantime, can I get another bottle of wine to our table?”

Servana Deelyon nods, “Of course.”

Aros and Baldur see another bottle of wine come to Galiena and Kavium’s table as Galiena sits down at the table.

“She sure is drinking a lot,” Aros points out.

“Like we should talk,” Baldur chuckles.

“Do you think she’s in distress?” Aros asks.

“She’s not climbing,” Baldur roars in laughter, “so she should be fine.”

“You give her some kind of signal, see if she’s enjoying the date,” Aros giggles, “I am too short. I don’t think she can see me.”

“Oh! I got it!” Baldur puts one hand on the crowd, and then points to Kavium – then to Galiena and begins thrusting at the air with his pelvis – while Aros stands next to him applauding. (DM Note – this was the gif he used as a reference – so for fun, I had him roll a Strength check to see how long he keeps it going – and he rolled a 17) So Baldur, despite getting Galiena’s attention, keeps going with the thrusting motion until a crowd gathers and begins cheering Baldur’s performance.

Galiena smirks and says, “Kavium, want to see something entertaining. It will just require finding one more person… Just turn around.”

Kavium turns around and sees the small crowd that has gathered around Baldur thrusting his pelvis into the air with one hand. (DM Note – For fun, I then had Baldur roll a Charisma check, where he rolled a unnatural 20) Seeing this, Kavium stands – and believes he understands Galiena’s intention of “finding one more person” and approaches Baldur and begins weaving his body into Baldur’s and thrusting with Baldur, all the while looking back at Galiena to see if this what she had wanted – an enticing offer of Kavium, Baldur and herself.

Baldur looks confused – “Wait, I thought you were her date.”

“She mentioned adding someone or something,” Kavium smirks, while still thrusting. “And as a follower of Prenah, I am entitled to enjoy the flesh and pleasure of both male and female, and it doesn’t always have to be one on one.”

Baldur pauses, “Well, hold on. But I am, uh, happily taken.” He begins looking around for Kaitlyn and realizes she’s still upstairs. “Yes, well I am taken. Happily so. By a female. My preference.”

Kavium smiles, “Oh, I don’t mind – invite her along.”

Baldur shouts, “Galiena! I could use some assistance!”

Galiena smiles back at him and gives Baldur a thumbs up with a smile and a wink.

Baldur tries to use Minor Illusion to mimic Galiena’s voice to say, “Kavium, I am ready” – but unfortunately the cheering crowd drowns his voice. (DM Note – I had Baldur roll a Performance check at Disadvantage due to being intoxicated – and he rolled a 6, which was not enough – so it was explained that the cheering crowd had drowned out his voice)

Seeing that Kavium is distracted, the drunk Aros decides to head for Galiena – however, in his intoxicated state – misjudges the height of a table a runs into it and falls on his back (failed Dexterity check for being intoxicated), but thankfully doesn’t knock himself out (passed the Constitution save). He stands and realizes he has a large lump on his head now as he eventually makes it to Galiena. “So… how’s your date going?”

“It’s not going bad,” Galiena says. “We ordered food – but it somehow got cancelled. Are you guys behind that?”

“We may have been,” Aros smirks. “We thought the waitress was delaying the date.”

“No,” Galiena growls. “I am hungry.”

“Oh,” Aros looks over his shoulder at Baldur and sees he’s now doing a different dance with Kavium, “maybe we should have ate before we started drinking…”

“You think,” Galiena sighs. “Anyway, he’s a follower of Prenah – as you warned me – and he has just one thing on his mind – to ‘learn from me’ or ‘teach me’ experiences in the bedroom – and that’s not what I am interested in at the moment.”

“Oh,” Aros says. “We read it wrong. We thought you were wanting to get some action.”

“Going on a date is different than getting some action,” Galiena sternly informs Aros. “And what was with grabbing Baldur’s leg earlier? Were you humping his leg?”

“No, it was … me trying to ask how your date was going,” Aros giggled.

“That was not the impression I got,” Galiena laughed. “As for him, he’s told me about… multiple partners he’s had… and that’s… not for me. I just want to find a way to let him down gently.”

Aros shakes his head, “From what I know about the Order of Prenah, they’re looking for affection anywhere, from anyone, and if they get turned down, they just move on, and see those who turn them down as not being… enlightened…”

Baldur and Kavium eventually stop dancing, and the crowd applauds as Kavium makes his way back to the table – as does Galiena. Galiena looks at Kavium and says, “Looks like you had a good time.”

“I had a fabulous time,” Kavium slurs, “and he’s a fabulous dancer. Fabulous hip control that one.”

Servana Deelyon brings out the food to the table and Kavium and Galiena begin eating, when just a few moments later, the tavern doors swing open – and a familiar – frantic figure scans the room.

“How come no one ever walks in here normally,” Aros asks Servana Deelyon. “Everyone always looks frantic.”

“Well, because around here, people run into homes and places of establishment to escape what waits in the shadows of Eaglerock since the mist came,” she replies.

“It was more of a ret… rehet… rut…” Aros tries to say.

“Rhetorical,” Servana Deelyon sighs. “Is that the word you’re trying to say?”

“Yes, that one,” Aros nods – as the familiar figure glances around the room and sees Galiena and goes to her.

“Pardon the interruption,” he glances between Galiena and Kavium. It is not other than Relgar Thornwhip, the assistant to Razathorn. He looks at Galiena, “I must speak with you of a very urgent matter.”

Galiena pushes her food away. “Of course.” She stands up and rounds up Aros and approaches Baldur and says, “We have a problem.”

“I know, my sexy dance moves stole your date, and now he’s focused on me,” Baldur shakes his head, not having seen Relgar enter due to the crowd around Baldur asking about his dance moves.

“No,” Galiena sighs. “Relgar’s here – he just told me Razathorn showed up – and he’s furious.”

“Relgar’s furious?” Baldur asks.

“No, Razathorn is,” Galiena sighs.

“Yeah, that’s probably because we trashed his -” Baldur starts to say, before Galiena covers his mouth.

“Just come with me,” Galiena sighs and pulls Baldur away from his adoring fans. Aros, Baldur, and Galiena, along with Kavium and Reglar head into her room upstairs.

Relgar continues to explain, “Razathorn showed up back at his home he has me working out of – and he’s furious. He spouting that Lord Brenmoon’s soldiers have dared enter his tower and disrupt his magics.”

“Tower you say,” Baldur slurs.

“Yes, he mentioned his plans have been set back because something was destroyed,” Relgar explains, his voice drowning in concern.

“That was definitely us,” Baldur giggles.

“You? Were you not headed for the Starfall Estate to search for the demonology book and the Quasit?” Relgar asked confused.

“That was sort of the plan,” Baldur shrugs. “We got distracted. We went on a date. And then there was a ghost lady. Bird people. Water falls. And giant turtles.”

Galiena shakes her head and shushes Baldur again. She removes her hand and Baldur sees her bathtub. “Oh, your bathtub, that’s where you spend all of your time.”

“Where I try to spend my time,” Galiena sighed. She turned to Relgar, “We didn’t realize how urgent getting the demonology book and finding the Quasit were. We – I – had gone on a … well, we ended up – as Baldur alluded to – going out… where we found ourselves in the middle of something else. So we’ve not made our way back to the Starfall Estate yet. But we were in Razathorn’s tower.”

She pauses, and asks, “Have you heard of dragons on the island?”

Relgar shrugs, “I mean, I’ve heard the rumors. There’s supposedly a black dragon to be found somewhere in the Swamp of Despair.” (The party had heard the same thing from a band of Kobolds back in Session 6, supposedly named Coal the Black) He paused for a moment, “There’s rumors of other dragons – who, like everyone and everything else – seem to be unable to leave the island – they try to fly off the island, they become violently sick – if they try to fly too high, become violently sick – if they try to swim away, become violently sick. And it’s no coincidence, that all these ships somehow seem magically drawn to the island and shipwreck along the jagged rocks.”

“So, this tower,” Aros blurts out. “We were in a Tower. His tower. And we had to climb this… tower of death… with these dragon people… but they weren’t normal dragon people… no, they were bigger… stronger… but when they died,” he made a gesture with his hand, “they went boom… and so, we would kill them and then need to get out of the way before the boom… and inside there was a dragon-lizard, and a floating eye, and a crazy goblin… and another dragon person. One of the boomy kinds.” While Aros explained this, Baldur pulled out the goblin’s staff, then showed his own spear.

“Yeah, my spear talks to me,” Baldur chuckles. “Well, talks to my mind. What’s your name spear?”

Baldur hears the slightly agitated voice in his head answer, “Khor’taur.”

“Guitar,” Baldur responds. “Or something like that. Hold on. It corrected me. Khor’taur. And by the way – one of those dragon people – they’re incredible. I told him to go find a yew tree – and I don’t think any are here – but, he did find one.”

“Yes,” Galiena sighs. “So, we met another dragon,” Galiena explains, avoiding the details about Crescent. “They’d told us that Razathorn was doing something with dragon eggs in a tower – and had asked us to go and destroy this… Cauldron of Shadows.”

“Cauldron of Shadows,” Relgar thinks about it. “No. Razathorn is mad with rage… but he couldn’t possibly be trying to create a Dracolich.”

“Dracolich?” Aros asks.

“A massive, powerful, undead dragon,” Relgar explains. “Ever since Lord Brenmoon exiled Razathorn from his Court – Razathorn has been obsessed with trying to take down Lord Brenmoon. But he can’t do a frontal assault, because Lord Brenmoon has a large army, as well as many wizards at his disposal. What he doesn’t have is many religious people, so an undead beast would be exactly what would work against Lord Brenmoon’s forces. We find ourselves caught between two mad-men. And what concerns me – if you were the ones in the tower – and that is what Razathorn is upset about – he had mentioned finding something to ‘give his hound to track the enemy down.'” Relgar shakes his head, “I don’t know if he means an actual hound or some hired assassin, so be wary.”

“We were stalked by a magical two headed dog for a few days,” Baldur mentions, thinking back. “But that was before the tower.” (The Fey Hound was seen first in Session 11, then heard in Session 12 and attacked in Session 13)

“Two headed dog?” Relgar asks.

“Yes, could go in and out of shadows,” Aros recalled.

“A Fey Hound,” Relgar sits, his face drained of color. “That means you’ve also gained the attention of Lord Brenmoon. Fey Hounds are his creation. Where were you when it began stalking you?”

“We’d just been by the waterfall, where we met a cursed Satyr,” Galiena explains. (Back in Session 10)

“Ossis,” Relgar whispers the word.

“You know him?” Galiena asks.

“Of him,” Relgar is visibly depressed. “Razathorn had asked me how to research trapping a Fey. He’d said he wanted to find out about it’s ability to live as long as it did. I thought the research I was doing was just that – for research to notate in the tomes why and how the Fey live for as long as they do. But it was for something much darker that Razathorn had kept from me. I originally came to Razathorn when I knew him as Mordak, hoping to learn from this powerful wizard. But he cursed me with a rune on the back of my neck and has made me his slave. Once Lord Brenmoon exiled him from his Court, Mordak summoned me here, and that’s where I learned that he was called Razathorn. To this day, I don’t know which is his true identity – and I am not sure he does anymore either.”

“We have the same runes,” Galiena explained, baring her neck. “Well, myself, Baldur and Aros do. We were on a ship headed for the Broken Lands, which as you know, Mordak forbid, for fear that his slaves would find some magical means of breaking this bond he has on us.”

“We need to find a way to manipulate their mutual hatred towards one another, to get rid of both and free this island of whatever this damned mist is,” Relgar says as he stands up. “But for now, I must return back to the house in case Razathorn comes back.”

“Before we go and fight anyone, we should probably get armor,” Aros mutters, slowly sobering up.

“With the demise of Lord Starfall and the rise of Lord Brenmoon – he had sent his soldiers to raid towns and either arrest – or kill, if they resisted – any weapon and armor smiths. They’re as far as I know, still in the prison. Though with Lord Brenmoon, they may well be dead. They also confiscated all the metal ores that had been mined, and strictly forbid it. In short, he wants to ensure that no force is large enough to rise against him. There are many who find themselves shipwrecked here, but either do not last long – getting taken by the mist, or simply have no desire or understanding of everything that’s going on here. Ironically, I believe the three of you, and myself, can thank Razathorn for the rune on our neck partially protecting us from succumbing,” he glances at Baldur and Aros, “to the island’s desire to drop your weapons and embrace ‘life eternal.'”

Relgar stands and walks towards the door, “To the west, there was an old mining town against the eastern face of a small mountain range. There was a mining town there called Kaltore. Lord Brenmoon’s forces ransacked the entire mining town, killing most of the people there… and it’s since been reclaimed by nature… but there may be things in the town… or the mountain range from which the town mined metals from… that may be a good place to start. Find resources, and maybe we can find someone brave enough to forge armor for all of you. But for now, I must go back.” Relgar quickly exits and closes the door behind him, and the party glances at one another…

TO BE CONTINUED?

I sure hope so!