Session 21

← Session 20	Session 22 →
May 4, 2012 – Reunion

• 12 Tylon 1444 - The party leaves Danberg to travels north to Canton City
• 3 Decitis 1444 - Arrival in Canton City.

The Story

The party leaves Danberg heading north towards Canton City after stocking up on winter clothing and trail rations (at high wartime prices). The party experienced nightly wolf attacks as they traveled, something unheard of before the war ground travel and trade to a halt.

Nearing Canton city the sharp eyes of Adran spotted a plume of dust heading towards us from the north. As Norvaan and Laphane took cover in the scattering of bare trees Adran and Oona waited by the side of the road as the disturbance grew closer. Soon it became clear that the commotion was a smallish rider on a horse being chased by 5 large brutish figures. The horse, surprisingly, turns out to be Adran's mount that was left behind as we entered the Shadowfell. The young boy that had been clinging on rather than riding pleaded with us to help him get away from the creatures following him.

"Ogres" yelled Adran and Laphane in near unison as the creatures attacked. The young man, a stable boy by his appearance, was the first to be felled by a large ax thrown from one of the Ogres. Through a veritable hail of axes, javelins and even large stones usually followed up by gargantuan clubs the heroes managed to victoriously vanquish the ogres so bent on destruction.

After giving the boy a liberal dose of the healing arts Norvaan easily got the boy talking after he realized the ogres were no longer a threat. He introduced himself as Elias, a stable boy in employ of the king's stables. He explained he was an orphan of the Blackguard war, his only living relative his sister Alyssa. Elias and Alyssa traveled from Danberg with Sventlana as she escorted the princess along the same route.

In response to Adran's questions about his steed Elias explained that he has been temperamental and nearly unapproachable for the time we were gone from this plane. That changed for the better about two weeks ago. Today he became very excited, and took off at a full gallop heading south from Canton City at the first opportunity. He did not stop nor even slow down until he found Adran on the side of the road.

Arriving at Canton City we were admitted by the guards to find patrols of soldiers keeping order. As we approached the castle the party spotted a minotaur among the guards in the courtyard. Recognizing him immediately as the former pirate companion of Sarah (Pirate Captain) Harold, though his name was far from anyone's lips (Rauth). As we were negotiating access to the lord of the castle, it turned out that Rauth also recognized us and had sent word ahead of our attempts as Bendroden Lightbringer appears and invites us to follow him. Through a secret passage he leads us to his personal quarters to interview us.

We tell our tale to Bendroden. He is particularly upset that de Aqueda is still alive (as are the party). Bendroden recognizes a figure from his past in the story. While with the Company of the Lion he encountered an old monk with a prophetic warning about Danberg that was realized later with the Blackguard War. Though there was a difference between the figure we encountered, the one he encountered was a purple hued Deva not a human. He also relates his story of the Blackguard.

Bendroden and his company defeated the Blackguard known as Raintree, a vampire lord, at great cost - the lives of two companions the wizard Thalinbar and fellow paladin Haldrin. Haldrin gained redemption for prior abuses in his valiant death. Additionally, the companion Bahen Stihl was driven mad and wanders the lands to this day as a gibbering fool. Two years later Haldrin, now the Blackguard, turned by the demon god Azak'Dul. The defeat of Haldrin (during the Blackguard War) also lead to his master (though with a new Blackguard this conclusion is suspect). He asks that we keep the existence of the new Blackguard to ourselves for the moment so as to not cause any sort of panic.

At the parties offer of assistance Bendroden escorts us to the ailing King Carver to get his authorization to use the Rock Knights to transport us towards de Aqueda's forces. The mission is to find out why the Torian dwarves are supporting de Aqueda, though Oona seems to have a different agenda in mind.

Treasure Acquired

• 870gp
• 1 diamond (500gp value)
• 1 fabulous candelabra, gem encrusted (250gp value)
• 2 magical items (upgraded spear for Oona, something pretty for Norvaan)

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