Shattered Star #37: A New Beginning

At the end of last session, we left our much depleted band of heroes retreating to nearly Ountsy in search of healing.

The Shattered Star

 

Of the party that had set out to explore the Lady’s Light only three members yet remained in the realm of the living: Grooble, Narfu and Zainnis (although the ranger had been driven mad by his experiences).

The party’s voyage aboard the Mermaid’s Mistress to Ountsy was without incident, although Narfu and Grooble had to keep Zainnis restrained for fear of what he might do to himself (or those around him).

Ountsy was the biggest city any of them had ever visited. And it was a fell, evil place. Recently wracked by coups, plague and riot the city was only just returning to “normal” after a tumultuous year. The largest temple in the city the survivors felt comfortable entering was the Bank of the Coinmaster. Zilchus’ faithful were always ready to sell their services and within two days Zainnis was restored to sanity.

Luck was also with the survivors for it seemed Shel Heidmarch had foreseen potential disaster and had sent reinforcements south to render what aid they could. Such new trusted allies were warmly welcomed by the survivors. The newcomers comprised:

  • Karelia: A shy and bookish, but impressively learned elf
  • Thaladan: A stout paladin of Heironeous
  • Peta: Another stout paladin of Heironeous; brother to Aq and Kara.
  • Sarif Axeheart: a dwarf skilled in the art of trap detection and battle.

Karelia carried a letter for Grooble from his Uncle Tom, along with a gift of fine cheese and this word from home helped ingratiate the newcomers with the survivors. Talk inevitably turned to how to deal with the creature—a seugathi—that had wrought such misery upon the party. In pursuit of useful knowledge, the party visited several locales throughout the city over the next few days. They wandered among the crowded stacks of the Jeggare Library and amid the dusty exhibits of the Jeggare Museum as well as rubbing shoulders with students of the University at the Wise Dragon Inn.

Their sojourn into civilisation gained them much information both regarding the Lady’s Light and its terrible inhabitant as well as recent events in the city. In particularly, the party were dismayed to learn that the seugathi they face was clearly not a normal example of its kind.

Still, they had naught to do but return to the scene of battle and attempt to recover the two shards lost in the seugathi’s lair (and their companion’s remains).

Thus, revitalised the party comprised:

  • Narfu (LN male half-orc monk 2/rogue 2/druid 2)
  • Grooble (CG male gnome cleric 5)
  • Zainnis (CG male elf ranger 5)
  • Karelia (NG female elf transmuter 5)
  • Peta (LG male human paladin [Heironeous] 5)
  • Thaladan (LG male half-elf paladin [Heironeous] 4)
  • Sarif Axeheart (LN male dwarf rogue 4)

And just six days after the disastrous events of the party’s last delve into the tunnels below the Lady’s Light, the heroes were ready once again ready to sally forth in defence of Ratik. Three days later, the Mermaid’s Mistress floated at anchor off the Lady’s Cape and the party once again prepared themselves for a life and death struggle in defence of their homeland…

Published by

Creighton

Creighton is the publisher at Raging Swan Press and the designer of the award winning adventure Madness at Gardmore Abbey. He has designed many critically acclaimed modules such as Retribution and Shadowed Keep on the Borderlands and worked with Wizards of the Coast, Paizo, Expeditious Retreat Press, Rite Publishing and Kobold Press.

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