Campaign Journal #5 - Battle for the Earth Temple

9th day of Harvester to the 1st day of Brewfest, C.Y. 591

2nd Battle for the Earth Temple

1. Reeling from the battle in the Earth Temple, Delvanos and Vannay fled the Crater Ridge Mines. Rerrid and Thandain were very eager to help recover the bodies of Durnegar, Uthgar and Tyrin.


2. Once again the party made their way past the main gate and proceeded to the temple. The Xorn once again proved itself a formidable opponent, but a host of summoned Celestial Archons and Fiendish Wolves proved to be the difference. The arcane priest marshalling the forces of evil was also felled.


3. The session ended with the recovery of the fallen comrades and the discovery of a letter to the Earth High Priest from Hedrack, who referred to himself as Master of the Outer Fane.

Overland and Undermountain

1. Thandain destroyed the altar sitting atop the stone ziggurat, which caused the collapse of the temple. A similar event occurred, when the Air Temple altar was destroyed.


2. The party returned to Rastor with the bodies, and then prepared for the journey to Verbobonc.


3. Vannay and Delvanos sold off the loot, and then went to the Temple of Kord to find Victor. Victor was eager to join the party for the further exploration of the Crater Ridge Mines.


4. The trip to the Northern Lortmils was without incident. A dwarven sentry post met the party shortly after entering the range. They agreed to escort the party to the home of the Khannenhelms. They warned of recent attacks by a group of humanoids known as “Dragon Children” or “Sons of the White”.


5. The leader of the Khannenhelm dwarves, who met the party, was the grandson of Durnegar. He took the party to meet with Realgar, the High Priest of Moradin. Realgar was pleased with the effort to bring his kinsmen home.


6. Realgar performed the prayers necessary to return Uthgar to the living. At dinner that night, he introduced Korthalis to the party. Realgar asked the party if Korthalis might accompany the party back to the ruins of Kuluth-Dun. Everyone agreed.


7. The next morning funeral services were held for Durnegar in Khannen-Dor, the Great Hall of the Undermountain. A memorial feast was to be held later in the day, but the party had already departed for their long return trip.


8. The session ended just prior to an attack by these dragonkin in the high mountain pass.

Curses

1. The battle went well against the dragonkin. The party countered the aerial advantage of the dragonkin by the use of ranged attacks, flying and a bit of grappling.


2. Vannay was contacted by the Arcane Consortium in Verbobonc. He was informed that the Amulet of Proof against Detection and Location was in fact an Amulet of Inescapable Location. He was told that if he wanted to do further magical business in Verbobonc, then the payment for the amulet would have to be returned.


3. The party arrived safely in Verbobonc and met with the head of the Arcane Consortium. They returned the gold and kept the cursed amulet.

Report from the Council Arcanum – Part One
By Tulliver Brandeen

For the first time in two years, the Council Arcanum has convened in Mitrik. The relative peace across the Flanaess has allowed scholars and mages to gather and share knowledge. The conference commenced on Dark Night and will end during the high point of Brewfest.

One of the first speakers, Fistan Nolro, was of particular interest, as his research has delved into the events leading up to the Twin Cataclysms. True records of these events have been lost to time, but countless theories abound as to what brought about the destruction. Nolro is a proponent of the “binder theory”.

It is known that at the dawn of the Suloise Imperium, the Suel sought to conquer the island nation of Ana-Keri. The islanders knew that their outrigger fleet was no match for the armada of the Suel. They called upon the elemental forces they worshipped to stop the invasion. The entire island of Ana-Keri was surrouned by a maelstrom of wind and raging seas. The Suel fleet was crushed by the elemental princes protecting the island. The few armies that did beach were defeated by “columns of fire” and “great chasms in the earth”.

Lord Obender, chief of all Suel mages, gathered the most powerful wizards to him to research a way to deal with these powerful elemental forces. One gifted young sorceress, Ibenala, came forward with a solution. She crafted four special prisons called binders to capture the elemental princes. These binders along with other magic could be used to control the elementals. One by one the princes were trapped by the binders. The destruction of Ana-Keri was swift and without mercy.

Ibenala authored a complex tome detailing the use and control of the binders. She then disappeared from sight along with the tome and the binders. Several theories abound as to the identity of Ibenala. The majority view holds that she is the dragonlord Tiamat.

To be continued . . .