Session 11, 2007-09-29: Killing Her Dog Is Secondary

Session 11: wherein the big picture comes into focus, and a dead dog isn't the worst part of Kelzun's day

Players (Characters)
Scott (Filthy Ike)
Jeremy (Flynn Flamm)
Tony (Brother Jakob)
Rachel (Lotus)
Tom (Nathaniel Graythorne)
DM: Catherine

As guests continued to arrive at Lonely Sparrow, Minellin asked Lotus to look at a nearby lake from on top of the tower. In the distance, she spotted a familiar-looking flying dog, as well as its companions. Without discussion, Minellin headed downstairs to meet with all of the guests, who described the state of affairs in the world.

Gindralen, an Ivani elf, spoke of the local hobgoblins causing trouble, as well as golems approaching from the north. Jason, a noble from Tindell, described mud critters attacking from the local bog and dinosaurs acting uncharacteristically hostile. Sir Reynald said the yuan-ti kingdom of Serpenti had spied and dealt treacherously with Westlay, and had now declared open war. Mary of Waecleft described many goblin attacks, saying King Edward was too foolish and too rigid to fight back, but had instead chosen to close the city to the outside. Enigma, a doppelganger, said the goblins were planning a direct assault on Waecleft and that Serpenti had gone through a serious drought. Sir Reynald noted Westlay's summer had been hot as well. Serpenti and marruspawn spies had been around various kingdoms for months, gathering information about water sources and assassinating wise clerics.

Reynald also spoke of the Thirsting, caused by the black sand, which was causing serious problems across Westlay. Mary had discovered the sand consumed both blood and water. Flynn recited the poetic riddle spoken by the living tree: "the thirsty blight knows of life but a part. His greatest foe lies in the woods heart." NMR also spoke of the dragon with the marruspawn rider, and of Kelzun. Minellin knew Kelzun had been summoned by goblins, and that she was now in the area. Phineas, from the northern woods, said both riders had gathered with others at a lake in the north, turned it to sand, and heated the whole area. A single skeleton was found in the center of the sand. Gindralen and other champions had saved another woman from the same fate only a few days ago, when Kelzun was delayed due to her dog dying. Finally, Minellin voiced his suspicions: all of the actions of the goblins, yuan-ti, hostile animals, and so on are simply distractions to allow these enemies to attack the lakes unhindered and to allow the marruspawn to continue massing in the south. Fighting back may turn the tide, but only if it's done quickly. Mary suspected Waecleft would not get involved.

After the meeting, Minellin called the Ninja Mongoose Rockstars for a second meeting. The party would become a special operations group, targeting important objectives including those behind enemy lines. For tonight, the objective was Kelzun herself. Minellin had intercepted a sending spell that made it known Kelzun would be alone for the night, and that the others would join her in the morning. Because Kelzun was a dry lich, water was very dangerous to her, and Lotus could be very effective in making the attack. The party spent some time preparing for the midnight assault.

Lotus gave the party mass camoflage and cast swim on Jakob. Minellin protected himself from spells. Flynn hasted the party, and everyone teleported to just a short distance away from Kelzun's campsite. Minellin cast analyze dweomer so he could make out spell effects on Kelzun. He then fired off an antimagic ray, which deflected off of her magical armor. Nathaniel created an illusory party off to one side, trying to distract the enemies. Ike fired a shot and Jakob tried unsuccessfully to grab Kelzun. Lotus raised the water level, covering Jakob and Kelzun. Lotus' kelp strand then started to hold Kelzun in place. Jakob tried to hit her but couldn't connect. Flynn turned Minellin invisible, and Minellin dispelled Kelzun's death throes. Kelzun teleported out of the water and tried to find Minellin, but he had stepped slightly off to one side. Ike fired some arrows and connected with one, and Nate's buzzing bee began following Kelzun. Several lesser enemies began to flee, including a quasit that Jakob killed, and a flying dog.

Jakob tried to throw Kelzun back into the water, but again, she evaded his grasp. Lotus again raised the water level. Flynn shot at one of the weaker enemies and Minellin fired another antimagic ray at Kelzun, which she easily resisted. She again teleported out of the water. Ike hit her with another arrow and Nate tried unsuccessfully to turn luck against her. Jakob missed Kelzun with yet another attempt to trip her. One of the enemies took a swing at Jakob, but he wheeled around and crushed it. A rushing wave from Lotus grabbed Kelzun and dragged her back past Jakob and into the water, and Minellin finally dispelled her boosted armor. Flynn kept shooting at lesser enemies. Kelzun tried to cast Blasphemy but Minellin counterspelled her cast. Ike fired several more shots, this time connecting and slaying the dry lich. The dog stumbled over to the dust pile and began sniffing it, and Nathaniel summon its worst fears to destroy it. The remaining enemies surrendered, and the woman Kelzun had planned to sacrifice was rescued.

This concludes Chapter 1: Troubled Times.