The final E-Dawn. We never did complete this campaign, one of the losses to the mists of time, a story without an ending.
E-Dawn Volume 29:
February 2007-April 2007 Edition
"His death, your death,
either way this brings us closer to the ultimate goal."
● Ristul to the Horror-marked Noratu ●
Spoiler Alert: This journal contains
spoilers for the Legend of Earthdawn Volume 1 quest: The Heart of Heroes and
The Book of Exploration quest a Plea for Help.
PC RECAP
Pugsli’s Spy Report 16. Sacrifice.
Sollus 17-Sollus 20, 1521 TH Bartertown to Urupa
Boss,
We boarded Roland’s airship, and flew from
Bartertown to Urupa.
-P
Sollus 20, 1521 TH Urupa
Boss,
By the Passions. The cloud of dark
corruption spans the entire northeastern horizon near Urupa. It’s almost too
late for this town. If we don’t find the names of the remaining heroes soon…
After landing in Urupa, we went to the
Liandrill and Zenicce section to the School of Adepts to meet with Noratu’s
master Malvari. The coward put away his belt buckle before entering the school.
I suppose the old saying is true, “A servant cannot serve two masters, or that
servant will honor the one and offend the other.” Well I am offended. An
admission that you needed help while away from your master a long time is not a
sign of weakness.
We entered the massive School of Adepts.
Devoid of the usual bustle of students and teachers, the empty hallways leading
to Malvari’s office echoed as we walked. Once at Malvari’s desk, Coga and
Ninheim reported what had happened since they had last seen him, including the
fate of Malvari’s caravan, and how they came to be cursed and join our quest.
Malvari then informed us about the current events in Urupa, including the
pirates plaguing the docks, the bizarre kidnappings of children in Urupa, and
the evacuations of most civilians from the city of Urupa. He asked Noratu how
he would combat the cloud of corruption if we were forced to enter it. Noratu
responded that a spell matrix or spell matrix object could be used to filter
the corruption at the cost of the matrix. Malvari grinned at the cleverness of
his apprentice, and gave us all spell matrix objects. Of course, Salishi and
Laura could not thread the objects, so we arranged for them to stay with
Malvari at the School of Adepts. Malvari surprisingly agreed quickly. I can
only imagine it must be lonely for him with all the students and teachers
evacuated.
As night approached, we decided to
reconnoiter the area to look for information about Urupa and the cultists. From
the intelligence we gathered, we learned that the city was split into sections
based on racial distribution. From our previous battles, we knew that the
cultists were predominantly humans and orks. So we decided to disguise
ourselves as cultists in gray and black cloaks and investigate the human and
elven section of Liandrill and Zenicce and the ork Ironclaws section to try and
find out where their prisoners were held, especially if we could capture some
of the cultists. Coga and Ninheim
investigated Liandrill and Zenicce and I followed them. The rest of the party
followed by Luke left for the Ironclaws section. Coga and Ninheim made contact
with the cultists who were planning a daring nighttime raid of the School of
Adepts to kill Malvari and kidnap Salishi and Laera for sacrifices. Coga and
Ninheim joined them on the night raid rather than attempting to capture them
since if they captured new sacrifices, they could lead us to where the rest of the
prisoners were held. The cultists used ropes and grappling hooks to rappel up
the walls and enter the School of Adepts through the window. Once they
infiltrated the building, the cultists captured Laura and Salishi, and Coga and
Ninheim “killed” Malvari, who used illusory spells to appear dead.
The cultists continued to Central Urupa,
where they took an unusual bathroom break to deface the Temples of the
Passions. It took all my will to not kill them all for their impudence.
We continued to the edge of the Ironclaws
section, where the rest of the group and the cultists and infiltrators met. The
cultists were immediately suspicious of the new group for a number of reasons.
For one thing their sudden appearance after the mission’s start, the size of the
group, and the implausibility of two groups of initiate cultists joining on the
same night of such an important mission. The cultists were not convinced by
Laira or Zangetsu’s claims of being cultists, although Noratu managed to
convince them he was a cultist. The cultists drew blades and captured Laira and
Zangetsu. I used the confusion to enter a back alley and form a new plan with
Luke. I hoped that Coga would explain the new plan to the second group who
probably still believed the plan was to capture the cultists and interrogate
them for information, as neither Luke or I could reveal ourselves if our plan
was to succeed, especially since Ninheim was fully convinced he was a cultist
for the moment and his actions may be considered hostile by the party.
The group of cultists, pretending cultists,
and prisoners were led further into the ork Ironclaws section, where they were
met by a group of ork cultists. The ork cultists led them to the troll Otosk
section, where the shadow drakkar was standing by in a hidden cliff face. The
prisoners were placed in individual cell rooms, each guarded by two cultists,
as the ork Sky Raiders prepped the airship to transport the prisoners to their
secret prison facility.
Laira and Zangetsu tried to escape; meaning
Coga hadn’t informed them of the updated plan. Ninheim responded to Falcos
breaking his manacles by dispelling him. He assisted the cultists with spells
and helped them to retie Laira and Zangetsu. Laira was furious at Ninheim for
betraying them. I can relate. No one wants to be taken prisoner, and based on
the Duke’s last wishes after his death; I can only imagine how possessive he
was of Laira in life. And who knows where Ninheim’s loyalties really lie?
-P
Sollus 20, 1521 TH Urupa response dated Riag 16, 1521 TH
P,
That’s what it feels like to be face-to-face
with the truth of what you are fighting for. We all face that moment in the
quest to be true heroes. Do not falter in your quest.
I am also offended by Noratu’s actions. He
will find little aid from the Slayers from now on. If you find no pride in
wearing the belt buckle, then you have no business wearing it in the first
place. You know what to do.
Not a bad plan, and not a bad adaptation to
a change in on the ground conditions.
Do not expect a Horror cult to respect their
only true enemy.
I don’t trust Ninheim/Heimnin one bit
myself. But where else are we going to find a dragonkin to go along with our
crazy plan?
-R
Sollus 21-23, 1521 TH Aras Sea
Boss,
We left Urupa at dawn, and flew around the
corruptive cloud over the Aras Sea, landing at a small alcove to rest, before
continuing to a hidden mountain prison facility.
-P
Sollus 23, 1521 TH Prison Facility
Boss,
Once we landed, Luke and I leapt into
action. Coming out of the shadows, we slew the cell guards, broke the prisoners
free, and gave the prisoners back their stolen gear. We then went up to the top
deck of the airship and fought the ork Sky Raiders and remaining cultists. It
was a tough fight, and in the end it seemed that Ninheim’s foul spell won the
battle for us and broke the formations and morale of the opposing Sky Raiders.
Individually or in small groups, they were easy for Luke and I to pick them
off.
After taking out the arrayed forces at the
airship dock, we proceeded to explore the first level. Luke and I watched the
group’s back from the shadows while they entered the barracks, defense points,
and warehouses on the first floor. We only had to step in once to help out when
an additional surge of cultists into the hallways occurred. Ninheim got hurt
badly in the first two battles, so he retreated to the airship. After defeating
all of the remaining ork Sky Raiders and cultists on the first floor, we
prepared to take the stairs to the basement level.
As we descended to the basement level,
shadow hunters surrounded and ambushed us from the shadows of the torchlights.
Zangetsu and his bone walker, Sam, caught the brunt of the attack. We managed
to dispel or defeat them all. Luke and I watched the group’s back as they
entered the kitchen and pantry, food growth area, well and water storage area,
forge, armory, and prayer room to Ristul. We proceeded further into the
basement level and I unlocked a room with a bone spirit in a bone circle. While
the bone spirit fought Zangetsu when he entered the room, more cultists
ambushed us from around a corner and attacked Laira. We defeated them and
Noratu dispelled the bone spirit. While walking down to explore the other room,
more cultists attacked us from around the corner, and in the midst of combat,
Zangetsu tried to open a locked door, and the door let out a poisonous, dark
cloud. The cloud hit all of us, before it was dispelled. Luke and I finished
off the remaining cultists and I disarmed and unlocked the trapped door. We
found a small wooden chest reinforced with iron bars, which I unlocked,
revealing a Nethermancer grimoire. Laira found some papers in his desk about
the Nethermancer summoning Ristul and some of the specifics of the sacrifice to
Ristul including how he was going to use his powers to protect them from the
corruption until they arrived at the Abyss where they would be sacrificed. I
unlocked a couple of doors to barracks, where the group found a couple of
weapon lockers with some forged broadswords.
We proceeded to a large, reinforced, iron,
double door that I unlocked. The door led to a large prison with over twenty
cells, two with griffins, one with Lysander, and four cells containing Coga’s
family guarded by over fifteen cultists and Ristul’s Nethermancer priest. Coga
asked for him to release his family. The priest told him that if he wanted them
released he’d have to go through him. So Coga glided over there and stabbed him
with his tri-spear. The priest told him that if he were going to Ristul, he’d
take his family with him, and emitted a black cloud enveloping him and his
family. Someone dispelled the cloud and I briefly saw Coga fighting with four
cultists and the Nethermancer before the cloud returned. The rest of us were fighting
the cultists trying to get to Coga and the prisoners before it was too late. I
heard the priest fall and he told Coga that it didn’t matter, that his master
had already chosen another. The cloud was dispelled permanently, and we mopped
up the remaining cultists. Coga’s whole
family, even his brother and father who helped with the kidnapping were
imprisoned. I released Coga’s mother and sister, and Lysander with the
Nethermancer’s keys to the prison.
According to Coga’s father and brother, they
joined the Nethermancer to kidnap Coga’s mother and sister to stop them from
being killed by the Ristular, since according to the cultists and notes found
in the Nethermancer’s room they were not important to the sacrifice. When they
later tried to escape with Coga’s mother and sister using their griffins, the
Nethermancer caught them and threw them into jail. They asked us how they were
going to pilot the shadow drakkar without any knowledge of Air Sailing. Laira
told them that she could summon up the spirits of Air Sailors. Of course, what
would happen to us if they dissipated at the helm of the ship? Coga could not
bring himself to let them rot in jail, or kill his father and brother despite
their misdeeds, and I released them. Coga and Zangetsu set aside 300 gold
pieces to send Coga’s mother and sister across the Aras Sea, and Coga’s father
and brother promised not to follow them, seeming not to care as long as they
were out of Barsaive.
We returned to the shadow drakkar and found
Ninheim to be missing. We heard a loud roar and Coga sent his eagle and Laira
her spirits to investigate. After locating Ninheim, the bird and spirits
returned and Coga’s father piloted the airship to his location on the cliffs.
Ninheim had killed a Brithan, skinned it, and had started a fire to cook it.
Ninheim flew to the ship with the Brithan’s meat in tow.
-P
Sollus 23, 1521 TH Prison Facility response dated Riag 22, 1521 TH
P,
It is dishonorable to kill a man rotting in
a prison cell in cold blood vengeance no matter their misdeeds. Coga made the
correct choice as a Slayer, especially if he really wants to be a Lightbearer
some day.
-R
Sollus 24-26, 1521 TH Aras Sea to Urupa
Boss,
With
the help of Coga’s father and brother as captain and mate, as well as Ninheim’s
and Laira’s spirits, we managed to fly the shadow drakkar to Urupa.
-P
Legend Points And Loot 9
Session 1: Sacrifice 1
Cultists
and Ork Sky Raiders Award: 1,970 Legend Points
Heroics Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Roleplaying Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Heroics Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Roleplaying Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Session
Award: 2,200 Legend Points (Arriving at the Ristular Prison)
Total
Maximum Possible: 7,470 Legend Points
Missed
Session Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Loot:
220 silver pieces from Cultists and Ork Sky Raiders.
Equipment:
14 Forged Broadswords, 14 Broadswords, 14 Light Crossbows, 13 Bolts in Quiver,
14 Slings, 13 Sling bullets in Belt Pouch, 14 Thread Hardened Leather Armor, 14
Hardened Leather Armor, 14 Crystal Raider Shields, 14 Espagra Scale Cloaks w/
Cloaksense Brooches
Session 2: Sacrifice 2
Total Cultists and Ork Sky Raiders Award: 3,170 Legend Points
Heroics
Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Roleplaying Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Session
Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Total
Maximum Possible: 8,670 Legend Points
Missed
Session Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Loot:
442 silver pieces from Cultists and Ork Sky Raiders.
Equipment:
16 Forged Broadswords, 16 Broadswords, 16 Light Crossbows, 13 Bolts in Quiver,
16 Slings, 13 Sling bullets in Belt Pouch, 16 Thread Hardened Leather Armor, 16
Hardened Leather Armor, 16 Crystal Raider Shields, 16 Espagra Scale Cloaks w/
Cloaksense Brooches
Session 3: Sacrifice 3
Shadow
Hunters Award: 500 Legend Points
Cultists/Bone Spirit Award: 315 Legend Points
Cultists Award: 300 Legend Points
Ristul Nethermancer Priest/Cultists Award: 3,070 Legend Points
Heroics Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Roleplaying Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Cultists/Bone Spirit Award: 315 Legend Points
Cultists Award: 300 Legend Points
Ristul Nethermancer Priest/Cultists Award: 3,070 Legend Points
Heroics Award: 1,100 Legend Points
Roleplaying Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Adventure
Award: 4,400 Legend Points (Defeating Ristul’s High Priest and saving the
prisoners.)
Total
Maximum Possible: 11,885 Legend Points
Missed
Session Award: 2,200 Legend Points
Loot:
61 silver pieces from Cultists.
Equipment:
4 Forged Broadswords, 1 Forged Dagger, 25 Broadswords, 25 Light Crossbows, 13
Bolts in Quiver, 25 Hardened Leather Armor, Espagra Scale Cloak, Thread Boots,
3 Booster Potions, 1 Healing Potion
Notes:When Pugsli is in Bartertown usually no messages are sent since he reports
directly to R. His journal is through his eyes, so events that he does not see
do not appear in the journal.
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