Session 2 September 12 2009 A visit to the Shrine of We Jas & Resolving the issue with the Dagger

Attending:
Tom, Dave, Sean, John and Leigh

Party Update and Review
Zarb Zarba (zarrb – Zarrba) Half Elf Sorcerer - Having been raised by an aristocratic Holderness family, Zarb was used to a much more lavish lifestyle than the tattered, leafy, dirty rags he that cover him these days.  It was only very recently, actually, that he himself was a member of the Holderness elite.  Through his diligence in the arcane studies and his personal commitment to use his powers to preserve harmony and flow in the universe, he managed to impress the Magus Superior at his academy enough to obtain a highly prestigious responsibility - assisting Mell su tu Vokh, a famous and revered sorcerer of formidable power.

"Handsome" Luke- Half-Orc Fighter -

Dayereth (Day-err-ethh) Eladrin Wizard -

Nadarresh (Nah-Darr-resh) - Dragonborn Ranger -

History:
Dayereth and the party slowly made their way to Brix a City of Gnomes.  Dayereth’s research takes him through the darker areas of the city and finally he find what he was seeking.

Meanwhile four dark figures watch from deep shadows above the evening streets of Brix.  As Dayereth walks beneath, they huddle together .

     “It is near”
     “Close yes close”
     “Others too far this is close”
     “Gather, gather it is close”

The figures quiet down as the wizard passes beneath them.  Their heads follow Dayereth intently.
     “Close Yes Close”

Sharla an initiate of We Jas was not hard to find. Mentioning the undead and dagger made more than one informant direct Dayereth to her door. Sharla listens to the story and looks at Dayereths notes and offers the following advice.

“No doubt about it the wizard’s spirit inhabits the dagger. That’s why you can break the enchantment you need someone stronger than he is. He’s fighting We Jas’s pull to the doors you are just trying to pull the residuum out.”  She smiles.

“Don’t get that blade near blood while his spirit lingers in it. Blood is power, it will give him strength. In truth he knows you know, knows you well! You can not hide from his gathering minions. You must hasten him to the great doors for We Jas’s judgment. The ravens gather now,.. yes I know of them, soon there will be other things, dark things, they will be drawn to you.  I will help you as it suits me. 10 swords (sp) you will pay me for my council.”

“5 leagues to the west a great rock rises out of a bog. Some call fools call it a mountain but in the days of my forefathers a shrine in a cave held the well of souls.  The dead and dying were brought to the well to hasten their meeting with We Jas so she might find favor with them. Deep inside this shrine a glowing sphere on, the alter, is a gateway to the great door. Any spirit near the well will be brought to the gateway. Be warned however spirits of any kind can not linger by the well. Simply bring the dagger to the well and the wizard will face his judgment.”

“Once the wizard has been brought to the doorway, he will trouble you no longer and if you still wish to break the enchantment on the dagger I’m sure you will have no difficulty. Now my silver please.”

The party having come to the inn at different times during the past few days finally join together and decide to head out the next morning.  A good nights rest makes it all the better for their spirits, especially since more than a hundred of the ravens now seem to be following them.  On their journey, they discuss that the alter will be used to cleanse the evil from the dagger by allowing the spirit to be placed within an  orb floating above a dais located at a shrine of We Jas.  As they make their way towards the swamps, Zarb is further annoyed by the constant stalking of the party by the ravens and unleashes a ball of acid that kills one of the ravens which is quickly cannibalized by the other birds.  Upon its death, Zarb and the rest of the party notice that the hundred or so has now turned into more than three hundred and although they are keeping their distance it is quite disturbing.  They make their way through the deep swampy area getting dirty and some seem more taxed than others in making it through.  Dayereth in particular seems to have more problems than the rest but does manage to finally pull himself free as they make it to the monolith where the shrine resides.  Seeing the entrance to the cave come into sight, they notice even more of the ravens that seem to be in the bushes surrounding the monolith. 

Zarb, hungry from the rough trip forages some berries from the bushes which abound in the area as Luke gathers some branches and bushes for a fire.  Dayereth, wary follows Nadarresh who moves quickly forward scouting the cave entrance.  As Nadarresh nears the mouth of the cave he notices two figures inside pointing crossbows at him and Dayereth.  Springing into action he calls out to take cover and then charges into the cave shouting about two creatures.  A crossbow bolt shoots out of the cave entrance and the others quickly move inside the cave to help against these attackers.

As he enters the mouth of the cave, three passages unfold, with one directly to his left, the center one with his foes and the one on the right deeper and dark.  The two kobolds stand before him in the center tunnel, he dispatches the first quickly and in Draconic it shouts out for its master as it dies, an oddity no doubt.  Determined to kill these evil creatures, Nadarresh charges forward and cries out in alarm as in his haste misses the pit trap concealing two large centipedes that move forward to attack as he falls to the floor.  Luckily Dayereth and Zarb see his dilemma and jumping into the pit, Zarb attacks the closest one with a dragon frost spell.  Dayereth uses some illusory magic to no avail as Nadarresh is bitten a few times before dispatching one of the giants, poison rushing through him to further sap his strength. 

Luke deftly jumps the hole in the floor and tries to keep up but is unable to find the creature.  Zarb dispatches the last creature with the assistance of Luke’s bow.  Filth covered but alive the two make their way to out of the Kobold’s apparent refuse pit to the echoing sounds of alarm all in Draconic.  Following the kobolds original path leads him to a shaft that goes down 50 feet or so and exudes a faint blue glow.  He tells his companions what he finds and Luke not covered in garbage notices that one passage seems much clearer and louder with cries of alarm, the first passageway to the left. 

The party decides to investigate and runs right into a well prepared Kobold ambush complete with a ballistae!  Luke narrowly missed by the huge bolt charges forth and takes out two of the kobolds quickly as Dayereth cast a cloud of daggers finishing off another one.  Nadarresh moves forward as well, and the battle rages on with the leader who spews forth acid attacks is quickly pushed back as his inspiring words are no match for the parties skills in battle.  He tries in vain to escape down a spiral walkway but is quickly dispatched.  The room where the ballistae sits has a large circle on the floor with something written in an old language that Dayereth translates into a gentle prayer to We Jas.  Realizing this is not where to rid himself of the dagger, they continue on into the next room, where the spiral ramps lead.

It is a long open room with yet another circle of prayers to We Jas and then a doorway that has the start of a ramp leading up to the center of the door.  The door opens and someone is being admonished in Draconic, Nadarresh moves closer to listen to more when the door opens up.  The wizards of the party move into a new chamber finding a central dais about ten feet above the ground with a blue glowing orb but it is suddenly filled with an inky blackness hovering above the raised alter.  A creature in a high pitched but powerful voice echoes all around asking why we have invaded its home and killed its minions.  Guessing that a goodly being would not have minions nor be enveloped in a dark, shadowy blackness, Zarb attempts to convince the creature that we only seek to use the alter and the creature asks for payment.  Nadarresh asks in Draconic who he serves believing him to be an evil entity and the creature bellows that he is the Black King!  Having declared he serves no one and not convinced after Luke half-heartedly tries to convince him again, the creature attacks with his acidic breath, catching Zarb and Dayereth who had moved into the room to speak with him.

Luke knowing this to be a tough fight charges past the pair and engages the now visible Black Dragon which although not as big as Nadarresh is more than formidable to take them all on.  Luke swipes across the dragon’s chest and then Zarb’s spell pushes the creature backwards further up the sloping ramp that leads to the glowing orb on the raised platform.  Nadaresh charges in and using his height is able to attack from the ground and with a fury of his kind attacks again but is struck back by the dragon’s tail before he can do more damage and almost knocked down.  Luke presses forward and the dragon sensing its advantage lost quickly flies up and out a shaft just above the platform.

Wanting the battle to be ended Zarb runs forth and seeking to blast the creature before it can leave is instead greeted by a mouthful of acid from the Black Dragon!  Before he or anyone can plan a proper attack the Dragon slips away from them up the shaft.  Luke having seen the Dragon leave jumped down and killed the last kobold in the room that had shot his crossbow at him earlier. 

The danger passed for now, Dayereth having moved closer to the glowing blue orb finds his backpack caught on fire from the dagger as it and what’s left of his belongings fall to the floor on fire.  Apparently the dagger’s power bled through so using his magical hand spell picks up the dagger and holds it near the orb and watches as the glow seems to drain from the item in a slow mist like tendrils much like when the young sacrifice was killed.  It seems almost a normal dagger now, as Dayereth picks up the dagger by hand finding ice cold to the touch.   

Checking the room for any more enemies and any useful items and truly hoping to stumble upon a powerful weapon, Nadarresh looks at the pile of coins to one side of the room but finds only an Amulet in the shape of a silver tree, a pair of bracers, some wicker armor of elven design and a small box of jewelry.  The room seemingly secure, they head back to check the other passages after stuffing the treasure into their backpacks, a small reward for the defeat of an evil dragon and his minions.  The group relaxing now, sought to cleanse this entire shrine which had been taken over by the Dragon.  It was in disarray and needed to be cleaned so Dayereth and Zarb said a prayer in respect to We Jas for helping us to cleanse the dagger.  They turned their attention to exploring the rest of the shrine to make sure there were no more enemies to be rid of this day.

The passageway in the middle is checked again by Nadarresh, Luke with him this time when suddenly a cry of “black inkiness in the tunnel!” brings them rushing back into the main tunnel.  They see the darkness as before and wary this time wait to see what happens much to the Dragon’s pleasure as he steps forth and breathes his acid breath upon Nadarresh and Luke, the two faltering a bit at the pain.  Dayereth having sensed the beast had teleported across the tunnel and then using his cloud of daggers attacks the dragon.  It shrugs it off and continues to rip into the two fighters, pushing back Luke with a sweep of his tail as Nadarresh tries in his exhaustion to finish the dragon.  He lashes out with his lightning breath but is unable to strike true, as Dayereth again casting his cloud of daggers sends the dragon to his death.  Fully exhausted the Dragonborn drops to his knees declaring that he wants the creatures head a, small smile forming through the pain, as the others take stock of the situation as well.

Dayereth infused with a will & heart of iron this day ventures into the final tunnel as Nadarresh waits and asks if all is clear.  The wizard says it is and they talk of leaving but Nadarresh stresses that he is truly spent and must rest before he can travel or fight anymore, so they agree and set about cleaning the third and final chamber, where the kobolds made their home.  The dragon is carried into the room and Nadarresh not wanting to be surprised builds a barricade in the tunnel near the pit completely sealing them into the chamber.  Dayereth takes first watch as the others quickly fall asleep most exhausted from their ordeal.

During the night a rustling is heard and Dayereth quickly investigates finding an Imp like creature trying to get through the barricade.  It is surprised and tries to escape as Dayereth gives chase.  Zarb alerted as well had woken up and followed the wizard in time to hear him call for the others to be roused.  Luke is quickly on his feet but Nadarresh is not woken so easily.  Casting an acid arrow at the imp it changes into a raven briefly then back into an imp and flies with great speed outside but as Dayereth is determined to catch the imp bounds outside right into the middle of hundreds of ravens sitting outside the entrance.  He turns quickly and comes back into the chamber, hoping to get some insight into the birds.  Prodding the unmoving Dragonborn he finally managed to wake him and asked if it was normal for the birds to be sitting there milling about, obviously worried the birds would come inside and attack en mass.  Groggy and a bit surly, Nadarresh said it was normal after realizing it was night time or near enough and they were simply bedding down for the night, which he went right back to himself.

As morning came the group decided to bring the Dragon into town by use of a magical floating disc but Zarb and Luke decided they did not want to be part of the fanfare and came into town together but slightly behind the other two.  The head and two claws would be taken by Nadarresh and another claw to Dayereth as Luke and Zarb chose to simply have a talon.  They make their way into town…