Session 13: Ivasar

Session 13 Ivasar - The Academy Arrives

When Ember told me why she actually came to Sacena, I was a little surprised. I had taken her for another adventurer, her and Viter both, a good and vengeful one to be sure, but like everyone else seeking guts, glory or gold. But I can understand why she kept it secret. I can’t even really say I blame her. I'm here doing the same thing, keeping the same kind of secret. Only I don't even know if they're still family or even themselves.

We had finished speaking with Schmendrick, hoping he could identify this locket we were supposed to plant on Petra and settled down for a short rest. All of a sudden the beating of minotaur hooves and bays of Gnolls filled the area and the courtyard of the Hooded Lanterns was under assault. We held them off well enough with some wounded and seemed to be turning the tide but a massive explosion scattered us. One of the towers had exploded, scattering stone blocks to the sky. A rift to the Fey world had opened and a Leshen over 30 feet tall had come to deliver anguish. Scrambling to meet this new threat Adrik rallied those that could.

In the aftermath many wounded and dead lie on the ground, surprisingly, but really not now that I think about it, Viter was his old self strutting around and comforting like nothing had happened, like a portal to the feywild and Leshens were an everyday occurance. We put our minds together to try to figure what had happened and we only came to one terrifying answer. The feywild was leaking into our domain. From the minotaur's collaborating with the Gnolls to the coordinated attack with the Leshen. We were living in interesting times as the old curse goes. Viter in assessing the leshen try to salvage some of the Petrified delirium Vine that link tipped with the feywild, but even the greatest of Mages have their off days and his clumsily cast Mage hand crushed the cord of delirium that had controlled the Leshen, leaving him covered with dust, though he assured me it was still useful as a spell component. However on the back of the head of the Leshen we discovered an imprint, two horns with glowing eyes. The symbol of the Winter Queen, inverse of the Summer Court. Not necessarily malevolent, but like winter storm, cold, desolate and devoid of life.

In conversing with Adrik and thinking back to before the explosion had happened, Ember recalled hearing a cryptic phrase from the rift, “Pedithan hi sui vellyn le nathlam hi”. He mentioned that Dallas the smith had heard some strange words as well, but they all thought he was just too deep in drink and had tossed him in the cells to sleep it off. They visited him and emerged with him sometime later. I remember hearing his wife talk about him, who now lay on the ground in so many pieces. I panicked a bit, no one should have to see such a thing, but the only thing I could see nearby was the mug Viter had used to carry oil to the ballista. I quickly scooped what remains of her into the mug and handed it to him. I then remembered that he had been put in jail for drinking in the first place and told him not to drink this. I hope it came off well.

Jupiter Jones revealed the news that he had so urgent wanted to give the Lord Commander. He was heading to the cathedral where his family catacombs were. He was after the belongings of one of his relatives, his grandfather Salazar Jones. Campaigner, conquer, or destroyer depending on your what side you were on he expanded the House of Jones at the expense of his neighbours. But in his later years he stopped and turned to the religion of the Eternal Flame, church forsaking his power and position to become a holy warrior. The tomb had been supposedly abandoned for decades now, but the doors opened easily enough. Hundreds of Gnolls and Minotaurs ahd made it their home. Alarming enough, but even more alarming seeing them peacefully working side by side.

After a short rest, of which I continued to sleep, as I have never liked those detached ivory towered book worms who place research before living beings. After much unnecessary decorum three of the Amethyst Academy, River who we new from before and Elric Iceburn and Terra T’sun, high ranking members each, arrived to poke and prod the bodies once the battle had been decided.

Elric, pompous and morally bereft, grandstanded around and gave vague notions of protection and help, all the while his cronies did their precious research. It warmed my heart to hear Ember giving him a good scolding. Though a bit of useful information came out, he talked of a similar opening or crossing of the planes, one that had happened on a place called the Island of Montellier, 150 leagues to the west, nearly 3 decades ago. Unfortunately, and as a warning of things that may come, Montellier isn’t around anymore. Thankfully Viter was able to cut to the point, about containing and sealing this rift, but the only answers they had were about research and understanding. What is there to understand? If there is a cut you bandage it, you don’t poke it and hope it closes.

River was able to pull a heartstone from the chest of the leshen, one that reminded us of the one that the hag has. Heartstones are charged with the power of lies or deceit, and they make for a very powerful object in the Feywild. They also helped us translate the cryptic phrase which meant “The mother hungers and must be fed.”  Even Elric seemed to be a bit taken aback.

It was clear that these hags were becoming more of a threat to Sacena. We resolved to strike out for the bog with nothing more to go on than a children’s song.

But first, we still had a mission to complete, the locket needed to be swapped. Viter, ever brave, volunteered and headed into the tower. Later he recanted a truly astonishing adventure, with hoodwinked guards, shadow-like stealth, Petra charmed beyond her nature with nothing but words and a good bit of sleight of hand. I asked him what spells he must have used but he only replied that a magician never reveals their secrets.