Session 23

← Session 22	Session 24 →
June 1, 2012 – Into Gallantria

• 5 Decitis 1444 - Aftermath of dwarven attack on Canton City
• 6 Decitis 1444 - 18 Decitis 1444 Travelling to Gallantria

The Story

After the dust settled from the dwarven/gargoyle attack on Canton City Oona searches the bodies of the Blackiron dwarves that had been killed and then begins helping clean up the bodies after he finishes. Meanwhile Bendroden requests the assistance of Norvann, Adran and Laphane in searching the house of the cook. A thorough search by Adran and Laphane turns up a journal and some old human remains. A quick scan of the journal shows that the real cook's last entry was a year ago (which is consistent with the apparent age of the remains), after that point the journal was used by a different hand to track names, descriptions and schedules. A small slip of paper warns to expect the attack soon with a reference to taking the girl as part of it. The group realizes that the birds in the hovel (2 left, one cage empty) were bring used to carry messages to and from the impostor and his master. Adran proposes a plan to release one of the birds and follow it using his freaky tracking abilities. Bendroden enthusiastically backs the plan and adds his own flourish by scrawling a note that reads "You Failed", and attaching it to the leg of the bird to be released. Adran mutters a short prayer as he releases the bird and all watch it fly away to the east.

Meanwhile, a house maid hesitantly approaches Oona (still working in the courtyard) from the castle. She hovers as he drags the shattered remains of a gargoyle to a trash card.

Oona is given a crash course in the basics of Roc handling, even picking up some of the basic hand signals used by the Roc Knights while in flight (as he will be travelling by himself). As the group flies to Gallantria they get a view of the effects of the war. Malaga is in ruins, a large encampment of the kings forces are spotted in Villa Nueva. After about 2 weeks of travel the group approaches the Veltmont Spire, and catch sight of the Windfall Valley far in the distance as they prepare to land. Simon orders the Roc Knights to land in the vacinity of a small town in Gallantria. After the group disembarks the knights take back to the air for their return journey. Oona dons the livery of the Blackiron dwarves that he looted from the dwarves that had been killed in Canton City, though he seems to be somewhat bothered by this.

The group approaches the small farming town. Adran scrambles up an outcropping of rock in order to survey the town. The town appeared to be a normal farming town in the middle of winter. However, he does soon spot two groups of apparently armed men moving out towards the outlying farm houses. Laphane is dispatched....to get a better look at one of these groups. They turn out to be Aquadan troops. A quick plan is hatched to try to ambush these troops from within one of the farmhouses, but this is quickly scrapped as the realities of the situation become apparent. The group's discussion of a new plan is interrupted by the approach of a cart from the direction of the town center. As most of the group decides what to do, Oona steps up to the road and calls for the cart to stop. The peasant driving the empty cart hesitates as he is ordered to give the group his cart, Norvaan give him a hard shove in the chest to set him on his way - leaving behind a handful of coins slipped to Norvaan by Oona.

Oona drives the cart with Norvaan on his right and the elves hidden under a tarp in the back of the cart. The troops ask who goes there the group as the cart approaches, Norvaan identifies the group as 'Men of the one true king'. Before any other response is possible Oona inexpertly urges the oxen to run over the troops, the ox balks and halts in front of the apparent leader of the troops and licks his face. The hostilities that ensue is relatively short, highlighted by an amazing 40+ foot leap by Adran into the midst of battle from the back of the cart.

All the troops are taken captive and loaded on the cart while unconscious. On a short trip to a more secluded location Laphane subdues the leader of the troops by punching him, he expires before reaching the destination (the Aquadan not Laphane). Oona and Norvaan perform an improvised interrogation of the remaining troops and find out that the Aquadan troops receive their orders from the dwarves to the north in the dwarven city of Vondar, with Engmar Blackiron in command.

Treasure Acquired

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