V2 Session Thirty-One Bravo - 18 July 2008 - "Gallery of Evil" (part 1)
October 1111
The party meet Kevin Arcana, who asks if they were “responsible” for the
following letter:
The Esteemed Wizard Kevin Arcana,
As I write this, a small group of highly skilled and courageous men and women are opposing
an abyssal force at the castle Serastis, not far from your present location.
While you may not know the name, I am sure you are familiar with the place. Within its
walls are a series of teleport gates that I am sure greatly interest you and will perhaps aid
your research and understanding of your new business.
While my divinations have shown that these courageous individuals will succeed in their
endeavor, they will likely leave the castle intact and functional. It is, to be blunt, yours for
the taking – assuming you are willing to invest the appropriate military resources to clear
out the remaining inhabitants.
Of course, I understand that a businessman such as you requires more than the word of an
unknown agent in order to make such an investment. That is why I am sending a similar
letter to Baroness Karoline. I, personally, do not care which of you two seizes the castle. I just
require that someone do so as soon as possible.
Guarding the place is a small contingent of Yuan-Ti (“snake men”). They have at their
disposal poison, magic, superior strength, and a variety of arms. I recommend that a force of your
“Arcane Defenders” numbering 300 would be sufficient to take the castle with minimal
losses.
You must act soon, though! Both to beat your competition and to ensure the Yuan-Ti do not
have the time to regroup and fortify their defenses.
May the gods shine on your days.
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29 October 1111
The party attends Creation Day ceremonies in Kingsholm, where they
participate in a ceremony to return the King's bones to his Barrow.
They find themselves the toast of the town!
18 July 1112
Heilli receives a letter…
My friends,
I apologize for my lack of communication. And I further apologize for making my first
direct request of you at arms length. Soon, I assure you, we will have the opportunity to meet
face to face.
Until then, my divinations have revealed trouble in the heart of Southbay. Deep in the city, a
force is making a move that threatens to unbend the plot I have been guiding these past
years.
You must travel to the house of Asheron Coyl – 11 Vermillion Way in the Ivy District. There
you will find a mystery – the likes of which I am unable to discern. Whatever you find, you
must follow it to its end!
The Vanguard are ended! The House has fled to the marsh! But our quest is still ongoing!
May the gods shine on your days so that the coming darkness will be burned by the fires of
a new morning!
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He brings the party together (all except Freyrik – who is already in
Southbay).
19 July 1112
20 July 1112
As they arrive in the city, Líkami heads off to find Freyrik, while the
others proceed to the home of Asheron Coyl.
They arrive to find the man murdered by a pair of enormous land-bound Octopuses,
who are in the process of tearing the home apart. After a prolonged (and
dangerous) battle, the creatures are destroyed – revealing their true origin.
They were magical constructs made of paint.
Clearly, they have found their “mystery”…