The group continued with their interrupted exploration of the sanctuary of the Order of the Sundered Scales. Coravel did a sweep for traps around the main hall while Kaylord looked for unusual stonework. Kaylord found a spot behind the statue of Iomedae in the main hall and asked for Coravel's help look in the area. Coravel could also tell there was something unusual in the wall and after Quis'Ari helped out Coravel was able to find a secret door. Inside was a room with a large book on a pedestal. Aramil was able to decipher the text and found that the book was titled Testimony of the Order’s Investigation of Castle Whiterock and Efforts to Slay the Wyrm Benthosruthsa. The book was divided into four sections, “The Call to Muster,” “Knowing Thine Enemy,” “Assayance of Castle Whiterock,” and “Progress of the Mission.” The last section had a bookmark for the last entry with the rest of the book being blank. Here are the contents of each of the sections
n
The Call to Muster
n
a woman who called herself Lady Chauntessa approached the Order of the Sundered Scale in Galaron with what seemed to be proof that Benthosruthsa was alive. The following six paladins agreed to form an order and adventure in Castle Whiterock to find the dragon and slay him.
n
- n
- Knight-Commander Usila Fairglade – Female Half elf
- Knight-Arcanist Argent Theophal – Male human
- Knight-Chaplain Benden Talbusk – Male Human
- Knight Lorio Ranither – Male halfling. Company musician
- Knight Ancival Dupre – Male human.
- Knight Felgin Forgefire – Male Dwarf
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
Knowing Thine Enemy
n
Discusses how Benthosruthsa is supposedly directly descended from the “noble” red dragon line of the mythical Sunscratch. It mentions his sire, Vaulnox of Ul
nDominor (slain), his brother Dorvenruthsa (active, with a note to cross-reference Lord Mirias Stormwarden), and his own son, Pyraxus of the Trolltooth Peaks (active).
n
Assayance of Castle Whiterock
n
Descriptions of the areas of the castle, levels one through six, mention by name Thane Hrolad Vejik of the duergar fortress Narborg led by Thane Hrolad Vejik, an underground coliseum called the Bleak Theater, a “maze of fire,” and the presence of an active Bobugbubilz cult in the area, thought to be on level six.
n
Progress of the Mission
n
Describes the building of the sanctuary with a description of the rooms and their properties. The properties of these rooms are described in the Sanctuary of the Order of the Sundered Scale
n
Towards the end of this section it mentions that the group had started encountering more assasins and mercenaries. In the second to last entry the log mentions a deurgar Vinfol had surrendered to the paladins, seeking absolution. He told them about an opportunity to kill the than. The last entry is in a different hand and says that Vinfol had lied, the paladins had been ambushed by the Pack of the Night-Wolf and five of the six were killed. Knight Chaplain Talbusk said that he was going to the ambush site in order to track the Pack down to their lair for vengeance. The book is empty after this entry, signed by Talbusk.
n
While Aramil read over the book, the rest of the group explored the area and found two shrines, a storage room, a barracks and an ossuary contain the remains of five of the six paladins. They met with Aramil and figured out what areas were affected. They had taken the belongings of Talbusk to take back to his daugther in order to provide more information about his and the group's fate.
n
The group decided that they should bring Thera and Katana down to the sanctuary, along with the trollhounds since it would be a better protected place for them to stay. The found that they could use a Cure Moderate spell to open the front door and made sure that Thera and Katana had a scroll that they could use to get out, if needed. After getting the two settled in, they decided to explore down the river in preparation for more adventuring on the next day.
n
The group made their way through rough water and a small waterfall. Just after the waterfall they were attacked by creatures in the water. While four of the creatures surrounded the boat, one of the creatures stayed underwater to attack the boat. Aramil flew up and used a rope to keep the boat from floating away. While trying to anchor the boat he found that a cave wall was an illusion.
n
Kaylord, Coravel and Quis'Ari took care of the four attackers, then Kaylord and Coravel went after the creature who was attacking the boat. Quis'Ari was able to get the mast down to use to plug the hole while Kaylord and Coravel made short work of the attacker. Aramil then used magic to mend the boat before transforming it back into a box.
n
The Strangers went through the wall and found a tunnel sloping down from a small rock shelf. They carefully made their way down and found a large cavern with a pool of water. While looking over the situation, leeches jumped up on Coravel and Kaylord and started draining them of blood. They jumped in the water just as 5 undead creatures swam up to attack them. Quis'Ari made her way down and was then attacked by leeches. Aramil flew up and attempted to take 3 of the undead out but they resisted his spell. Coravel and Kaylord swam and attacked while trying to avoid the leeches. Aramil became paralyzed by something while the five creatures continued their attack. Quis'Ari also jumped in the water, sinking at first, then swimming out to get away from the leeches and the undead. One of the creatures was taken down while Aramil was still paralyzed. The session ended here.
n