Stone Soules Summary V: Recovering the Martyred Tesla's Body, and Further Adventures
Well, the game was mostly uneventful, but here's the basic idea:
Arriving at base camp on the 20th of August 2173, we healed up to send a
group back for Tesla's body (we had scryed and knew the body was there). I
went in this group with Dari's cloak and along with me, Ceydric & Theo were
invisible, spell immunitied, protected, and aided when the time came to go
in, and Faranyn, Jerem, Letier, Darkeye, and Xavier. When we approached the
doors, a bell went off and quickly Ceydric and Theo went in and Faranyn and
I, with help from Xavier and Jerem, held the doors. Though they took four
lightning bolts, they escaped with Tesla's body and we weakly headed back to
Middle.
To save the scroll for later, Aria was raised at the Nevronian Church in
Middle, and Tesla was sent to End for raising. Aria was successfully
raised, but Tesla's soul was out of reach. He received a proper Nevronian
Burial. I buried Bluebear in Middle. Also, a ceremony was performed by my
fellow Churchmen to bury and repent for the loss of the tropical birds in
the bailey during the insect plague.
Meanwhile, Dari and Cassana convinced the druids in the Elven Village to
reincarnate Cantstin. Surprisingly, he came back as a human. After resting
and trying to work his new form, he returned to Middle.
In the meantime, several items including the Cloak of the Manta Ray, Token
of Boat, Potions of Healing and Fire Resistance, Scroll of Flame Walk had
all been identified. A banquet was held for the Koralgeshians, and there
they announced a formal extension of a no-interest loan to the party for
their half of the treasure. On behalf of the party, Faranyn accepted the
loan. We took their share of the money as the loan (11,000 g.p.) but they
took the Cloak and the Scroll. We in total had about 40,000 g.p. This was
nearly enough to train all people who could be trained at least one level,
one level. Star, Xavier, the Koralgeshians and I headed off to Teft for my
training. Equipment would also be pruchased so I could train my acolytes.
After Faranyn's armor was fixed by Weber, he headed off with Theo to be
trained in Secton and Dunthrane respectively. Sahrak, Pap, Nym, and the
men-at-arms also headed off Sahrak, Theo arrive Dunthrane 19 October 2173.
At one point, Faranyn's group beyond Dunthrane encountered a small group of
ogres which they routed easily, 26 October 2173. Faranyn arrives Secton 4
November 2173.
The Teft group cut through the Northlands to reach a port from which the
Koralgeshians received free travel by boat. On the way, we were ambushed,
17 September 2173.
The group was mostly entangled by a druidic spell, while a mysterious
crossbowman fired into the group. Star and I were unaffected. A mean
looking guy with a mace waded in from behind and someone tried to backstab
Letier. Several _Hold Person_s and _Command_s later we had subdued every
one. We tied them up (the Druid had escaped) and removed all their stuff.
The Mace-wielding guy was obviously very difficult to hit and our damage
appeared insignificant to him (and the Duke was hitting him, too!), so we
were glad to tie him up.
It became obvious that the backstabber was merely hired help but that the
other two were highly disturbing. They both appeared evil but none appeared
phased by the whole encounter. As were talking the Crossbowman went
translucent and disappeared (the mace-wielder said "Got to take care of your
henchman"). Our attacks on the translucent one were ineffective. We killed
the mace-wielder as well. After _Speak with Dead_ing the Mace-wielder, it
appeared obvious that someone had been possessing the body, as this was the
body of a blacksmith from a small hamlet in the area of the cty of Jonhalom
(which we had just passed through). We brought back the body and the tied
up hired-hand to town (Back to Jonhalom). We were arrested because the
Blacksmith had turned up missing a few days ago. After verifying my
identity and Letier's, they set us free. We told the authorities that the
backstabbing bandit had been cooperative (which he had been).
The leader of the bandits was supposedly named "Kergul," and his name is
linked to several crimes (8 or so) in the past several months but each time
he has been described differently. Clearly this is a very dangerous
fighter-mage person, obviously evil or severely messed up, who is possessing
people and committing crimes through them. His goals or ideas we know not,
but we do know that he's dangerous. I don't think this is our fight,
though. After they set us free, we head out of Jonhalom once again.
--Alegra Falconer