We return to our heroes as they leave Falxmed in a Bartholomew & Company wagon, along with Heyzzzel, Ainen, Gilles, and the (still) unnamed kitchen/scullery maids. Once they are clear of the city, Gilles and the maids are let out, while our heroes continue on. The driver suggests that they seek shelter at the home of Kajh Valkor.
Barclay opens the chest he took from Vict Falkor's desk, revealing many documents. After much discussion and sleuthing, here they are (with redacted sections filled in):
2 pages of runic text:
- An early/original version of the spell shield, labeled "SKELD" in common Forefast.
- An early/original version of the spell unseen servant, labeled "THRALL" in common Forefast.
2 sketches by the artist Rathas:
- A beach scene with rock arches.
- An underground scene with a column missing a brick.
2 pages with sketches and runic text:
- Scene: Two women in traditional dress. Text: A Harvest song played on a flute. A sickle and axe feed the home. A girdle hides an empty belly. Each bucket will soon be full. Hoods shade us from the sun. A ram's head is a proper offering. Feathers will be plentiful now. Wear your finest cap and sandals to the dance.
- Scene: A man in traditional dress. Text: The Four Peoples meet at Midsummer. A family from Woley, tinnersbell on all their garments. A couple from Oandmere, dress and shirt of palest shadeberry. A couple from Measburn, floddoc-dyed trim and a cardinal feather in his hat. A family from Hulderford, cloaks of weld and woad.
3 letters to Vict Falkor, with coded/abridged sections filled in when appropriate:
Vict,
I must say that we are very interested in your council and wish to know more about it. Tell us all, in great detail! We have many volumes of the pages you reference—thousands of them, maybe more! We will sell them for 5 gold pieces per page. Forward as much as gold as you wish and we shall promptly deliver them to you. P.S. We are very serious!
Galix & His Delver Horde
Earl Falkor,
I trust this giantsblood will suit your needs. It was taken from a three-headed faxthurs that my soldiers captured in the southern Rustwood.
My entourage heads towards [Pallistae], the next most-likely location. Will talk about [Hhurtik] when we can meet.
[Taldir Falsteloj, lord of the Havil Pallis]
Earl Vict Falkor of Falxmed,
My lord, Aldus Patrox, wishes to accept your invitation to observe such an extraordinary and unprecedented event. He and I shall arrive via circle as suggested.
I have sent two journal fragments and two drawings as payment. How you knew they were in the grave of Jocosa in Caedsmoor is a mystery that my lord would like to discuss. In any case, you have my lord's word that, should your plan come to fruition, you will be paid handsomely in gold, land, and title.
Cole Varlet, squire-assistant to Aldus Patrox,
Cardinal of the The Church of the Adamant,
Lord of the Garnet Sword,
Advisor and Cousin to His Majesty, Andel Patrox
4 notes to Vict Falkor from Jasny, Chancellor of Falxmed, with coded/abridged sections filled in when appropriate:
Sir,
D. reports that he suspects a colleague owns several pages in her library; he will research and report when possible.
-[Jasny]
Sir,
A representative from the [Havil Pallis] reports that they have begun raids into [Pallistae]. They are now quite confident that the [Ryn]/[Urtik] premise is incorrect.
It appears that [Taldir Falsteloj] has been taken ill and it is quite serious.
-[Jasny]
Sir,
[Wendlaf] reports that the framework is stable and the runes are active and holding; flesh is materializing although differently than anticipated; rituals are ongoing.
Personnel are tying up loose ends and relocating to [Nevriath] outside [Suriidae].
-[Jasny]
Sir,
A man arrived from [Casseval] bearing these two pages. He claimed to be a messenger but was clearly an official of some rank, though he would not give his name. The man demanded to speak with you but I refused, as instructed. He said these were the last two pages in his land as a third had recently been stolen. It seems that [Casseval] initially believed we were involved when they received your first letter. I assured him that we were not. I also explained more about the upcoming event, what his land stood to gain, and, of course, our assurances for the safety of any guests. I trust I have not overstepped. This seemed to put him at ease and he verbally confirmed a guest "of sufficient status".
-[Jasny]
The party takes a long rest in the wagon, save for Barclay. He casts sending to Ilyavoe, saying he had concerns about Vict Falkor. She sends an assistant/familiar, a winged cat named Amphe. Barclay shares what he recently discovered and Amphe/Ilyavoe helps fill in the gaps. When the conversation ends, Amphe curls up on Ainen's lap and teleports both of them back to Ilyavoe.
The rest of the party wakes; Kodrak and Raehendra are still down hit points. They all arrive at House Falkor, situated in a cliffside depression with crops and livestock, and surrounded by a forked river. Our heroes meet Ahlsid, the caretaker, and then Kajh Falkor, a vampire and once Earl of Falxmed.
Kajh hosts the party for the day. At lunch in his dining room, he demonstrates a contraption that moves a light source behind a stained glass window—a recreation of the window in the Thyrre dungeon house. Kajh tells what can about:
- The time known as the Scymrelde or Scymralth, when magic and spells were being developed. These early spells lacked safety mechanisms and were often harmful to everything around the caster. Unfortunately, they were written down and held in some sort of library—which could prove disastrous if it were located.
- Rixiilliandrias of Pallistae Starling-on-Tinsley, an equally long-lived magician, but through magic rather than vampirism. Rixiilliandrias loved Kajh's sister, Miela, who died around 200 years ago. Rixiilliandrias hasn't been the same since. Kajh also reveals that Hazephas is the imp familiar of Rixiilliandrias.
- An (almost guaranteed) teleportation circle to the River Tinsley (near Rixiilliandrias) perhaps 10-14 days' walk to the west. There is another teleportation circle perhaps 7 days' walk to the west-northwest that could perhaps be used to visit Rixiilliandrias. (It is located beneath an abandoned watchtower and may no longer exist.)
- A healer woman of some repute lives near the bottom of the cliff. Kajh says to speak with the first villagers that they meet.
Our heroes ask a variety of other questions, many of them comical. Kajh displays a great amount of patience. Raehendra asks about Greebles, and Kajh recites a poem he read by Valyric Paega:
Beyond the veil where Greebles bide,
In seas of shadow everlast,
Their hunger for the timeless vast,
Beyond the veil where Greebles bide.
Beyond the veil where Greebles grin,
Their uncanny shapes do devour
That which dares pass its final hour.
Beyond the veil where Greebles grin.
Barclay tries casting a sending spell to Rixiilliandrias, which fails. He then tries casting a sending spell to Hazephas, who says that he will be there when he can—which is where we ended the session.
Soundtrack:
None
The Main Cast, our player characters:
- Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
- Kodrak Kukkerlun (he/him), dwarven fighter (battle master)
- Raehendra Tiddlybumpkin (she/her), gnomish ranger (hunter)
- Renn Summerstar (he/him), elven cleric of Lioris (twilight domain)
- Sentie Rancis (they/them), human wizard (school of transmutation)
The Supporting Cast, non-player characters:
- Ahlsid, human, caretaker of House Falkor
- Ainen, kenku, former assassin
- Amphe, winged cat, assistant of Ilyavoe
- Gilles, human, lackey
- Hazephas, imp, familiar of Rixiilliandrias [via sending], friend of Harold
- Heyzzzel, gnome wererat, artist
- Ilyavoe, human, witch general of Fellsdare [via sending]
- Kajh Falkor, human vampire, once Earl of Falxmed
- 3 unnamed kitchen/scullery maids
See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!
