New Edom Revisited

[Tybalt]

(Thanks :) Yes, they did lack a little subtlty. Wulvera has a secret temple to Demogorgon wayyyyyyyyy down below the brothel)

Kedward Bone was an uncomfortable person; in spite of his elegant surroundings and obvious wealth he was physically deformed; bone spurs stretched his features and gave him a skewed expression. He deliberately flaunted naked slaves in front of the uncomfortable New Edomites, toyed with them asking why he shouldn't sell the piece of the artifact to the Dark Elves instead and revealed tauntingly that he used to work for Lord Aholibamah till he decided he wanted to go work for himself. When the pcs displayed as much patience as they could during this and insisted that they would top any offer any Dark Elves made, he came to the point.

"Wulvera is trying to steal my monopoly. The dragon's breath drug seems to not just turn people briefly into half fiends, it could threaten my trade--it has more punch than anything I see. I need a sample of it, I need to know where she's getting it, and if along the way the problem were to just...go away...then I'd be glad to trade the book piece for eliminating my troubles."

When asked why he didn't just do it himself he pointed out that the city lived with uneasy truces between factions--he would only do so if he could prove easily that Wulvera had it coming. Easier to use another party that didn't live in the area.

The pcs made their way across the city to the Porphyry House brothel. They stopped at a tavern called the Violated Ogre to have a few drinks and discuss their plans. Highlights:

Mereka: This is just like a play! We'll have to somehow case the brothel by pretending to be a group of rowdy and rough and tumble mercenary types, eager for lechery and foul behavior!

Aevar: Please tell me that no one has pissed in our drinks.

Kallyn *glares and pulls Dassah protectively closer to her when a thug goes to pinch her*

They also met a strange woman, half nymph and half demon, wearing little but leather straps, tattoos and a feathery cloak, who called herself Tyrlandi and asked if they were interested in the brothel. On being told that they were she said, "Are you going to the orgy? Last night to register...it takes place in two days." with a playful smile she slipped away after that.

The plan they have formed is this: most of them are going to register for the orgy or at least intend to to get a look inside while Aevar will slip in invisibly, and try to get a look around to places they might not be shown.

When they arrived at the doors they found them guarded by a man and a woman of magnificent build, wearing gilded chain and silvered plate, wielding halberds. Each wore a silvery cap helm and a beautiful porcelain white face mask. Aevar wanted to touch them to use his psychometric powers on them but couldn't without them noticing. His heightened senses revealed a strange scent on them, underlying the normal human one. A strange earthy nose twitching smell...

However inside they were greeted by the sight of a beautiful foyer with erotic statuary, potted plants, fountains and a buffet. A lovely lady in flowing Yasg garments approached and welcomed them to Porphyry House.

[LordVreeg]

Hah.  I like the cultural clash.  The New Edomites are so clearly coming from a different world.  They could learn a trick or two from Kedward about subtlety.

(Love the Violated Ogre...Igbar is called the Unicorn State, and there are more bars in the dock area with bad unicorn jokes...)  The half nymph/half demon woman is a mind blower, actually.  I imagine that kind of thing is not normally seen in the streets of a city.  How strange that must be.  

MM.  Invisible.  A great tool to use against low power creatures.  Those demons will see right through it...

Good descriptions so far, very vivid.   Can you put the players being at the leisure, I wonder...

[Tybalt]

I don't know if he will be able to make it past the retriever, which happens to be in the room guarding the way to the secret temple. Should be interesting. If he's REALLY smart he will also make himself insubstantial so that he can use shadows to hide in--that way he will defeat the orlath and the retriever's low light vision.

Certainly even in Nala the half-fiend nymph is an odd sight, though so startling as well and accompanied by a group of ex-pirates that she is not bothered. She is actually a worshipper of Malcanthet and is a troublemaker; the pcs may find her a helpful ally should they so choose (Aevar was fascinated by her--he has a thing for nonhuman women that he has yet to fully explore)

Their original plan was to send in Aevar invisibly with Kallyn's friend Zanith camouflaged so she could see through his telepathic link and also her followers Ini and Corwin to 'sample the wares'. Mereka didn't like this plan for some reason...

[LordVreeg]

Certainly even in Nala the half-fiend nymph is an odd sight, though so startling as well and accompanied by a group of ex-pirates that she is not bothered. She is actually a worshipper of Malcanthet and is a troublemaker; the pcs may find her a helpful ally should they so choose (Aevar was fascinated by her--he has a thing for nonhuman women that he has yet to fully explore)

Ain't that the truth!  I had a Dryad play hard to get with PC, and it was supposed to be a little sideline to one session.  Turned out to be the biggest deal.  Character  started going to the Cgurch of Ceminiar to learn about Dryads, started bringing presents...it got ridiculous.

You already heard my fears about the invisiblity.  And I just want to know if you can 'tempt them' off the path.

[Tybalt]

How much off the path do you mean? Off their adventure altogether into some kind of diabolical deal? Not likely. Into a little fun and games in Nala? Very likely. Kallyn is already wondering what lovely treatment she can get at the brothel--if they have sensual baths for instance. (I keep reminding them that they haven't properly bathed in over a week, reminding them how armor that has been lived and fought and practiced in smells--think of old gym equipment) The pcs are very much aware of how they are grimey and hungry and longing for luxury. Aevar is more likely to be tempted by spying on people, discovering strange magics and so on but that's HIS temptation, his dangerous tendency to scout way too far ahead and then have something awful twig to his presence. (He hasn't done it for a bit since the last one was a young adult red dragon he 'ran into'--he managed to wound it almost by accident with his Rod of Lordly Might and has stayed fairly cautious since then)

What's probably going to happen will be this: Kallyn's followers Ini and Corwin have been given leave to enjoy the pleasures of the house--they'll at some point be caught with their pants down if things go wrong. Kallyn wants to dally with Dassah in an expensive bath, so she'll have less than pants, while Mereka will probably stay with Shannow and Marlee in the lobby. Mereka never dallies save in a Temple of Ishtar.

Kallyn and her followers will have to contend with a bunch of Yuan-Ti purebloods, at least one halfbreed priestess and her pet snakes, while Mereka and the npcs in the lobby will have to deal with charmed patrons as well as a group of animated erotic statues that will attack non-Yuan-ti on command. Aevar will either find himself face to face with a succubus pretending to be a corpse or else the retriever, both of which will summon help immediately. Unless they are amazingly cunning I've figured this is what's going to happen. They might frankly get captured or killed.

I'm not quite sure what I want to do if they are captured.

Here by the way are links to a couple of pictures I'm using for inspiration for the bath area.

http://www.topofart.com/artists/Jean_Leon_Gerome/art_reproduction/2887/Moorish_Bath.php

http://www.topofart.com/artists/Jean_Leon_Gerome/art_reproduction/2861/The_Teaser_of_the_Narghile_(The_Pipelighter).php

[Tybalt]

Aevar spent a while sneaking around the brothel before he saw (invisibly) a guard walking out through a hidden panel in a hallway. he padded through this and snuck around the complex, seeing hidden storage rooms, a room he could not get into guarded by a golem in the shape of a woman, and eventually a long flight of stairs going way way down in spirals below the brothel.

Meanwhile Mereka sat chatting with various people in the foyer, discovering to her dismay how just about any perversion could be catered to by the inhabitants--just about anything that could be paid for. Where had they come from? Apparently from Yasg--the decor, the clothes, even many of the plants were Yasgi.

While Kallyn's followers disported themselves with the...bounties...of the establishment Kallyn herself with Dassah registered for the orgy (part of their cover) and then went to bathe with Dassah. She gloried in being clean at last and able to frolic some in her lover's arms.

Aevar meanwhile felt his Danger Senses going off and decided he would start to head back soon--who knew if something really dangerous might be able to detect him. He felt (wrongly) that this might be a Dark Elf place and that he might encounter spiders so he began moving very stealthily, hoping that the vibration-senses of a giant spider would not detect him.

Unfortunately the thing at the end of the long hall was a Retriever. Aevar decided immediately to exit the area but was pursued. He managed to reach the stairway which was too small for the monster but was wounded on the way. He found himself in combat with a yuan-ti abomination warrior and was hard pressed. the expressionless creature tried to hypnotize and hold him but Aevar managed to turn insubstantial and escaped through the floor. His goal now was just to GET OUT, hopefully rally his friends and regroup elsewhere.

The retriever however was able to mentally contact its master, the Orlath demon, which alerted the Yuan Ti.

The baths' everglowing lights were immediately doused. Grills were raised and cottonmouth snakes slithered into the water. Kallyn felt something rough and muscular and nonhuman brush her bare thigh and with a suppressed screech vaulted out of the water, pulling Dassah after her. She looked for weapons in the pitch blackness, using her blindfighting ability to try to remember where things had been. Unfortunately the lights came on and she found herself and Dassah facing 4 angry Yuan Ti with crossbows who ordered them to surrender.

In the brothel rooms Kallyn's followers were apprehended in flagrante delicto.

In the foyer Mereka, Shannow and Marlee raised hell, fighting back ferociously. However Mereka and Shannow were defeated by animated statues after being surrounded and pelted with crossbow bolts while Marlee broke the door open and left.

Aevar met Marlee (who was huddled nude in an alcove in an alley in human form) and giving her his cloak went with her to Kedward Bone, who was busy packing. He had been using Aevar to scry and felt that he had overstayed his welcome in the area.

"Look," Aevar said, "If you leave without helping us Marlee and I will hunt you down wherever you go."

Bone reluctantly agreed to raise a mob of some kind while Aevar contacted the mysterious ur-priests to get their assistance. Bone did mention the book but Aevar replied that he would not take it until he had earned it and fulfilled his promise. (Bone stared at him in astonishment, then shrugged)

Aevar and Marlee found raising the ur-priests difficult--the palace was basically one great haunted manor, complete with disturbing corpses and unsettling loss of time and disorientation. Aevar managed to contact one (though gaining a disturbing sense of the necromantic in the process) and informed the ur-priest that the Yuan-Ti had a demonic temple against the laws of the city.

Having done this they emerged to find that it was morning.

Meanwhile the others who had been captured were subjected to a humiliating physical examination and interrogation session, and then it was decided that the best thing would be to sell these pathetic New Edomite spies to the shrine of Tiamat. (to lull the Tiamat worshippers into complacency) Mereka had all her fingers broken and her tongue slit to prevent her doing any magic. Kallyn and the others were degraded by being told to call the Yuan-Ti halfbloods and purebloods guarding them "Master" and "Mistress". Kallyn and Dassah were forced to remain naked.

They were by morning packed into a caravan. The brothel was unaware that Bone was gathering his influence to send a mob as arrow fodder against it. The caravan moved out of the city.

Aevar demanded a boon to help with his plan to rescue his friends. Bone lent him a wand of wonder and was astonished that Aevar actually took it.

However Aevar and Marlee between them managed to ambush the encamped caravan, freeing two of Kallyn's followers who had been tied to trees to be whipped. Kallyn took advantage of the confusion made by the wand's weird events and managed to get herself, Dassah, Ini and one of the Yuan-Ti slaves to a wagon where she seized her sword Jotunhammer in time to fight hand to hand with a Yuan-Ti halfblood.

They had a fierce battle with the guards, aided by Aevar's use of the wand to create havoc and the dragon flying overhead zapping what she could.

Finally their enemies lay in the dust, bleeding their last. They found the necessary keys, freed themselves of chains and quickly removed the caravan gear to a more hidden location to rest, recuperate and figure out what stuff they had. Then to return to the city--they had a piece of the Book to gain and revenge to get.

[LordVreeg]

Ouch.
That was exactly what I was afraid would happen.  'Tempt off the path', meant 'let yourself be caught with your pants down', literally.  I wonder if the players understand how lightly they got off?  And now, they are known.

However, you taught them something, I am sure.  I'm glad the Ur-priests at least had some rules against human sacrifice.  I'm sure that the Porphrey house had their bribes in, as well.

[Tybalt]

I take it you would have been a lot rougher on them? If they had succeeded in capturing Aevar believe me they would all have been slaves and packed off to the secret shrine of Tiamat--and unless they'd thought really cleverly been horribly tormented there.

The mob raised by Bone and the ur-priests won't have been as effective as they might have hoped--the shrine itself and the dungeon area won't have been cleared and they will have lost a fair bit of loot to the mob, the cannibal monks and Bone's thugs.

In the dungeon below Wulvera has gathered a lot of demon's breath, planning on still doing the sacrifice, using two of her demonic servants to pose as members of the mob and now and then teleport down to her with more victims in hand. Upstairs Bone and the ur-priests have used as much magic as they dare and have retreated to rest and refit, leaving their followers to sack the brothel and carry off the whores to whatever ill fates await them. It is to this scene of debauchery, carnage and chaos that the pcs will arrive. Controlling the mob will be near impossible as the pcs are now known to be New Edomites; their cover is totally blown and in fact the responses of the mob will be indifferent at best unless they do amazingly well with magic or charisma rolls.

Wulvera has left the retriever (which is still at full hit points) to guard the lower landing while she and her remaining cultists prepare the ritual. If it seems as though the retriever is being badly defeated she will know the jig is up and plan to flee using a secret water tunnel. The temple is a death trap; when fleeing they will place a fire trap under the fungus that the drug comes from and it will ignite when the pcs and whoever they've gotten to come with them arrive. The Yuan-Ti know discretion is the better part of valour. If they DO have to fight then it will be nasty--an Orlath is like fighting a marilith combined with a barlgura, but with twelve arms. In addition to this there is a succubus, Wulvera, and 3 Yuan-Ti abominations.

[LordVreeg]

perhaps a little harder.  It's actually one of the hardest things a DM can do, whittle away an adult (player) party.  It is often the worst thing for the game, and for the story.  as long as you got some of their treasured items, I suppose...

However, it does sound like you have them set for a tussle.  Hopefully, Wulvera will be one of those wonderful re-appearing villains down the road.  Maybe the dark elves will give her some hints on the 'book of the Dragon'.

[Tybalt]

The Quest for the Book of the Dragon is at an end. The dragon Talavar is slain, the dracolich's rise prevented--for now. The huge body of the dead dragon still lies preserved by magic in a pit in the eastern mountains guarded by fanatical hobgoblins and dragon-kin. However the Pit Fiend general from Tiamat's plane was successfully summoned--short of the monster being destroyed it is certain to rally those remaining humanoid tribes that have been reluctant to join in the war.

Though New Edom has not lost new territory with the coming of winter dread lies in the hearts of the people. The spring planting will be difficult and dangerous with raiders from the Celtic and humanoid sides making constant incursions. Fineberg is still under blockade. Winter will only be a respite.

Not knowing what precisely the book of the Dragon is for, and with resources spread very thin indeed there is again talk of terms. However this talk is dwindling--with reports of devil worshipping humanoids raising a monstrous horde on the other side of the Silver River it may be that terms would do the country no good.

[Tybalt]

Glasstower

The third important city to be conquered after Harbourtown and Lookinghaven, Glasstower is a landlocked city in lightly rolling country to the south of Touchstone and north of Harbourtown. Surrounded by overwhelming forces, the donjon of the main fortress damaged badly by dragon attacks and magically enhanced siege engines, the city surrendered lest the people suffer the fate of the people of Harbourtown.

Glasstower's burghers and patricians were either exiled with little more than the clothes on their backs (in a few cases smallclothes or less after being robbed on the road) or forced to bend the knee. Those who remain as wealthy merchants or courtiers to the conquerors are called 'the Viles' by the loyalists. More to follow on them.

The city's fortifications have been rebuilt. Where buildings had been destroyed by siege the rubble has been taken away by now and either new buildings or pavilions have replaced them.

Occupation Forces and Leading Factions

A succession of warlords has governed the city, and currently the warlord is Lord Tarley, a bullet headed grim human engine of war in superb mail, wolf furs and sporting a grim disdain for the soft things of life. This stands him in good stead as intimidation might increasingly be the only real hold King Cleothas' old loyalists have over the place. With the death of the King and factionalism breaking out at home Lord Tarley increasingly is only in command of two fo the gates and the fortifications near them. He has about 100 knights and 300 men at arms to hold these positions. Humans try to flock to his area but he has barricaded it, concerned about famine and plague. Harsh he may be but he is human and while very hard he is known to be a man of his word.

The Fivers are devoted to Tiamat, believing that dragons as the symbol of Celtic royalty. They believe with the death of Cleothas that their nation must repent of factionalism and clan loyalties and social impurities. The Fivers dislike certain Celtic customs as well such as promiscuity before marriage, excessive drink and worship of the Tuatha-de-Danan. This cult grew very popular under the prosperity of Cleothas. Recently a number of knights and chieftains as well as common folk have flocked to it out of fear. There are roughly 600 warriors attached to this cult. They control one of the city gates as well as a former temple of Ishtar they have turned into a Temple of Tiamat. Most of the rest of their followers are camp followers of the army who have turned pious. Regular prayers are being done to try to summon other dragons, and lore is being pursued to that effect.

The Orcs of the Red Banner hold another gate and have built a temple to Gruumsh. They number nearly 2100 but are intimidated by Tarley himself and the power of his knights. While rumors abound that the dragons are dead they still look upward warily during strong winds...you never know. The orcs have begun taking over the district they are in. Most of the humans there are little more than slaves to these ravening humanoids. With a hard winter coming on and food scarce, there are dark rumors about the contents of stewpots in this area.

The hobgoblin Spear Regiment in Glasstower is the all but decimated Fifth Hammer (Loyal to Tiamat) Regiment. It only has about 350 hobgoblin warriors left, the rest being female camp followers (all hobgoblin--hobgoblins are snobs) and about 1000 goblin slaves. The goblins are growing restive and a number of them have deserted to become beggars and thieves in the rest of the city. They hate and despise the orcs and distrust the Celts, who they feel betrayed them at Fineberg. However they have little choice for now but to side with Tarley, though they are wary of being made to do his dirty work and act as arrow-fodder. The hobgoblins try to keep the area around the Temple of Tiamat (a former temple of Moradin) clean and organized. They treat the humans in their area as slaves, and cruelly, but there are clear rules and instructions. As far as they concerned people who surrender are mere chattel.

The merchant militias number roughly 600 all told, mostly caravan and warehouse guards. The remaining merchants include slave dealers and moneylenders as well. Two secret factions so far exist among these. One is a group of Yuan-Ti, part of the overall plan to secretly take over the region and plunder it for magic. The other is a front for the local Thieves' Guild, which in Glasstower is called The Harvesters. The Harvesters may be rogues but they are appalled at what has happened to their city. They secretly smuggle out mistreated slaves and help smuggle in spies for the Nocturnal Council.

The Drow form a powerful faction that is very small but feared and respected. It is well known that these fanatics are after something and will stop at nothing to get it. They also act as excellent advisors. They are aloof and neutral in the factional conflict, contemptous of group aims and mostly keep to themselves. However they have already built up an impressive network of favours owed by almost everyone. The Drow also know about the Yuan-Ti, whose presence in this war has begun to disturb them.

Finally there are the droves of small mercenary groups, brigands, thieves, whores, beggars and carpetbaggers seeking to profit off the army like jackals. These never belong to any one faction for a long time (unless the pay is really good--though as things are getting now the attitude of 'you can't eat gold' is starting to prevail) but rather scurry around town fitting in here and there and preying off the hapless townsfolk where they can. Part of the reason why no stronger mercenary groups exist is that most of the mercenaries worth their swords booked ship and went home immediately when they perceived that the coffers had dried up and winter was coming. The ones still hanging around are losers without decent mounts, decent arms and armor or real hope. As a result they are cruel and bitter to those weaker than them or servile and sneaky with those more powerful. Every alley is a potential ambush point or impromptu brothel or snake oil salesman's stall.

City's General Appearance

The walls, towers and gates have been rebuilt, and stronger than before. From a distance the city looks impressive and from the right angle one can see the glint and shape of the crystaline Tower of Glass.

The gates, whether guarded by orc or human tend nd to be rather corrupt and potentially brutally guarded unless bribery or great power (allied of course) is shown. If a strong enemy force arrived it would unite the city temporarily. The Fivers tend to be very pure but also ridiculously strict about searching people and subjecting suspicious people to questioning.

Inside the city streets are strewn with filth and a lot of areas are neglected. It is somewhat overcrowded with refugees from outside and camp followers. The only fairly clean and uncrowded areas are those around the main fortress near the north gate controlled by Lord Tarley and around the Temple of Tiamat, shared by the Fivers and the hobgoblins. (note that these two factions only grudgingly cooperate...the hobgoblins' worship is different and they are perhaps more aware of the true nature of this goddess)

The Great Market, once a bustling area near guild halls and the craft district is now a dirty wretched area that is more of a slave and loot market than anything else. Livestock offered for sale here tends to be thin, sickly and dirty for the most part. Near the gardens that were devoted to Ishtar as patroness of ale is now a set of gambling halls and fighting pits that enable the war weary troops and camp followers to wager away their ill gotten gains.

The homes of the rich are either neglected drafty halls occupied by groups of humanoids and brigands, held by the Viles, or else occupied by Tarley and his followers.

The Viles

There are several kinds of Viles.

False Viles are the best--and the fewest. These include the Guildmaster of Grocers who is secretly the head of the Thieves' Guild, the Harvesters, and is known for being able to find roast goose in the desert as far as Tarley is concerned. Everyone has to deal with him sooner or later, though everyone is also envious and ready to take what he has if only they could. He commands a strong militia force paid for by himself and his cohorts, and his warehouses are never robbed--unpleasant things happen to those who try. He is secretly a New Edomite patriot though reviled by outsiders as a traitor. Few even on the Great Council of the Republic know his true allegiance.

The 'Little Viles' are those who have squirmily attached themselves to one faction or another. They lack the resources to hire their own guards, protect their property or themselves for that matter and so act as advisors and assitants to the conquerors, or mistresses or utter lackeys as the case might be. Some have grown able to grin under various forms of light humiliation. These have believed enemy victory is certain and that strength will overcome all.

The Big Viles sold out big and gained big. This handful of rogues and villains essentially acted like the Little Viles but had more resources to offer. Some of the guildmasters still remaining fit into this category, but also a few patrician families sold out to survive and bent the knee to the King, bringing their households with them. These have now thrown their lot in with Lord Tarley for survival and would readily betray their fellow countrymen.

[Tybalt]

Currently my players are busy in the world of 1971 Earth trying to find the lost pieces of the tower. They were quite excited and said I did a good job of making them feel in character the whole time. The group is currently split up between the half that can't really talk without magic studying the Book of the Elves that supposedly corresponds to the Book of the Dragon in the library of the tower's earthly guardian, while the other half are visiting a university library with the guardian himself in order to study the geneaologies of the druidic families that supposedly inherited the lost pieces of the tower.

I am also planning for the future. When they return they will find that the enemy are still occupying Glasstower and that with the unification of the towers (this is IF they succeed, if they die or something the secrets of the tower die until someone else finds a way in somehow) the Drow have managed to at least discover certain ancient artifacts they intend to use. One of these is a demonic seed they will use to 'seed' Glasstower and surround the tower with a sort of sinister gigantic tree that is actually a kind of monstrous demon. Forces rallying as allies will begin to dominate Glasstower.

Meanwhile, however, New Edomite forces in recaptured Harbourtown will begin to prepare for a winter campaign against Glasstower. The pcs will be at the heart of this in an effort to contact local resistance and plan for a series of surprise raids against the main city defenses.

Again, this is if all goes well.

[Tybalt]

Story So Far

Pcs are told by the dragon guardian of the tower that if they complete the Tower not only untold wisdom will be bestowed but also the good dragons of the world, who have been under a dreadful curse, will be released from it and able to send some help to New Edom. The pcs are very excited about this, they really want to go through the tower's nexus gate and get the Book of the Elves and the other objects that are necessary, complete the quest! They are warned that magic may not work very well but they aren't concerned about that.

So.

Coming through the gate they find themselves in a cold stone room. Several bricks are missing from one wall, exposing bare earth. After exploring a bit they find that there is a trapdoor on the ceiling, which leads out to a hill surrounded by forest. There were in the distance some sources of light in the darkness. These were seen to the north, the east and the south. To the west the forest seemed particularly menacing and the wind moaning in the trees reminded them of angry treants and dryads outraged by humanoid depredations in Goblinland.

My pcs nearly chose to go to the eastern source of light, which would have led to a fruit farm and a short tempered landowner. Fortunately they chose to go to the southern one, which led to a country house owned by the guardian of the Book of the Elves, who turned out to be a scholar who had had fae encounters earlier and was glad to see them once he realized they weren't hostile.

At first they thought he was a wizard (one player, Aevar's realized very quickly it was the 1960s/70s but roleplayed very well his character's ignorance) because he would make a gesture and behold! light would fill a room! lo, and music would be played by ghostly musicians! However they soon realized most of it was some kind of mysterious machinery...even if he was the magician it was this machinery doing the miraculous things.

Having befriended him--they chose the nicest of the pc group, Aevar, to be their emissary--they managed to see the Book of the Elves, which described the missing objects. Unfortunately they needed to spend some time using a special magical item Aevar had not yet used that would upon meditation for several days grant certain elvish abilities, including ancient history and so on, which were necessary in order to be able to read the book at all.

The Spriggans

So far they have been there about a week. They were prowled around by spriggans, who they decided to confront tonight's session, and while killing several they discovered that the others got away or were in another location altogether. The spriggans, descendants of the elves' footsoldiers, seem determined to get the objects for their own use. During this episode Kallyn was nearly killed as they chased after a survivor of their battle, falling into a crevasse.
(Spriggans are fae creatures like evil gnomes that can turn into giants)

The Collectors
They also discovered that a group called The Collectors has three of the objects--one apparently has been lost to them, driven the posessor mad and given him such powers that he is worshipped by a secret cult--and that they are in one location.

Unfortunately they discovered this while visiting the home of one of them (pretending to be students, befriending some other students from a nearby college the guardian works at) they let slip a few things that indicate that they are something odd.

1. They all have a dragon tattoo indicating their affiliation with one another. They were invited to swim and they couldn't think of a way out of it. (also in fairness they were roleplaying well and were taken in by the strange and amazing luxury of the world they've found themselves in)

2. Kallyn and Mereka couldn't hide the fact during some sports competitions that they're Olympic level tough for women of this era and culture.

3. Aevar frequently seemed to go into a kind of trance.

4. Marlee when snuck away by the owner of the house didn't succumb to the date rape drug that had been distilled from a fluid from one of the objects and was guaranteed to work on anyone.

They know however from Aevar's various psionic tricks and from Kallyn using discreet questioning that the stone egg, the glove and the spectacles are in a set of vaults in a place called the Corinthian Building, in the city of Brichester in Gloucester. (outlandish names!) They intend to get the guardian's (his name is Paul Thormond) help in tracking down this place and do a recon of the area. They also will keep an eye out for the Spriggans.