Session+Twenty

Discussion, discussion, discussion. This is the story of our PC’s lives! This time around, they discuss travel plans… and whether or not they include a guide by the name of Jernath. Eventually the group decides to accept his help. The journey lengthy, but there is plenty of game for Lia to hunt, so at least the group doesn’t go hungry this time around. Jernath leads the crew to a cave entrance in the mountains. He informs them that they will be using the caves to get to their destinations. The horses are left behind, and the group goes cave diving. Though dark, gloomy, and apparently inhospitable, the caves show signs of life… there are people making their homes in here. Eventually the group meets with these people. Jernath explains that the people down here are a group of people who sought refuge after the sundering. They appear to be human, though they have grown short over the years, becoming accustomed to cave life. Oddly enough, the cave dwellers seem to have been expecting the PCs for some time. They begin making preparations for a large celebration, claiming that the arrival of those who would bring with the Gifts has been prophesized for a long time. A huge banquet is served in the PCs’ honor. Yet another surprise comes to the group when half way through the dinner, one of the small humans presents Lia with Greschal… the Gift they had lost to Dunin in Ivycrest. A small warning flag goes up in the group’s minds, but it is quickly washed away with dancing, food, and drink. Eventually Lia and Kirin retire, leaving Arion and Jen still dancing. Then things turn ugly. Lia is not alone in her room… Dunin, or Creeven as he is now known has been waiting for her. He is dressed in his forest garb, with a wolf pelt as the latest addition to his outfit. After admitting to killing Lia’s wolf friend, he and Lia get into a fight of words and blows. In the end, he overpowers her, stabbing her in the heart with a dagger. While Lia is confronted with Creeven, Arion and Jen are dancing in the main ‘ballroom’. Jernath eventually enters the scene, and everyone bows low to him. Realizing things have gone terribly wrong, Arion and Jen try to move out of the room, but are surrounded by the citizen of the caves, now armed with spears and other weapons. After a good deal of resistance, the two are brought before ‘Jernath’ and secured to one of the banquet tables. The illusion surrounding ‘Jernath’ fades, revealing a tall, dark haired woman with red eyes. She takes Elddem from Arion, and introduces herself as Melanuth. She then explains that she has been leading Arion and his companions around the realm, and playing them for fools. She stopped all contact with Drayton, and inserted her own information for them to follow. She and Creeven had been after the gifts, and now they are in the possession of two… soon to be three. Kirin, sleeping in his room, is awakened by a little girl he’d seen at the party. She draws a dagger and attempts to stab Kirin. He dodges the blow, searching frantically around the room for his things. He remembers the earring Keraph had given him, and tries to warn Keraph of the danger he’s in while dodging the girl’s attacks. Eventually his connection with Keraph is broken. The girl’s features shift many times… one minute she looks like Eli. Another minute she looks like the Phastian Prince. Finally, taking on the appearance of Keraph, she deals him a deadly blow. Arion, Jen, Kirin, and Lia fade into darkness, their minds giving them visions. They see themselves standing before a burning city. Its citizens are being beaten and whipped. They see a massive, silvery dragon… and then defeat it. Finally, they see Keraph standing alone against a huge demon, fighting amongst the rubble and ash of a burnt building.

The End?

Back to Session Nineteen