Campaign Journal #22: Gathe, She of Too Many Nicknames

Our heroes have finished talking with Kajh Falkor, so the manor's caretaker, Ahlsid, shows them to the back garden and mountain cliff. A narrow switchback path descends thousands of feet into the mist below. Sentie casts feather fall and the party jumps....

Not long after landing, our heroes stop four merfolk from abducting a boy and girl. Barclay scares the merfolk with the illusion of a tentacled sharknado, which the merfolk unsuccessfully attempt to command. Renn guards the children while Kodrak, Raehendra, and Sentie defeat the merfolk. After the short battle, Kodrak and Raehendra are exhausted—no doubt because of their curse.

The party returns the children to their village. On the way, they spot a familiar-looking runic writing on some gravestones. The children explain that a neighboring village was overrun by lizardfolk and a handful of survivors made it to their village. This was before their time, however, and they don't know any more details.

In the village, our heroes meet the mayor and an older healing woman. They send signals to another village and an impromptu elders' meeting is called. The elders seem convinced that Kodrak and Raehendra can be healed by the Merewaif ("lake wife"), the Gyrgrim ("fen witch"), or the Wolhaeg ("pestilent hag")—though it turns out this is one person. They are given directions and warnings to avoid the lizardfolk.

They encounter Hazephas, who says he will try to arrange a meeting with Rixiilliandrias.

Our heroes finally meet Gathe, an ancient healing woman (of unclear lineage) living in the bones of an ancient dragon. She removes the cursed blood from Kodrak and Raehendra, and then she is told about the party's adventures. Gathe reveals and/or gives advice:

• The Scymrelde was an awful time. Our heroes must destroy the runic spell pages or those days could return.
• A resurrected god's powers will be limited—though still exceptionally powerful—until the ritual is complete. However, that god will also be unkillable until the ritual is complete.
• The blue-eyed being has attempted to spy on Gathe, but could not because she is closed off from the world.

With Kodrak and Raehendra healed, the party heads west, across the river. Gathe has given them two potions to protect them from the felmana, blue-feathered dire centipedes that live in the grasslands. Our heroes also wear vine crowns, which allow them passage across the lizardfolk's lands. The lizardfolk are not happy about this, but they refrain from attacking. A mortally wounded (poisoned) lizardfolk warrior is spotted and healed, and the lizardfolk appear grateful.

Our heroes leave the swamp and head into the grasslands....

Soundtrack:

Austin Wintory, The Banner Saga (2014), The Banner Saga 2 (2016), The Banner Saga 3 (2018)

The Main Cast, our player characters:

• Barclay Stone (he/him), human bard (college of eloquence)
• Aevyr, his imp familiar
• 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
• Gathe the Grove-Ward, healer
• Hazephas, imp, familiar of Rixiilliandrias, friend of Harold
• Kajh Falkor, human vampire, once Earl of Falxmed
• Unnamed healer, human
• Unnamed mayor, human
• Children and elders, human
• Lizardfolk villagers

See the full cast list at Campaigns in Elsemorn—now with photos of the miniatures used in the game!