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Review Svartaland, Season 03.5

Svartaland, Season 04 Svalskörde / The Cool Autumn

Session 62

The Red-Gold Company turned over the archaeologists to the Messersch authorities. Baron Bart examined the papers found on them identifying Hersir Karl Bruni, a baronet from Drasland as having employed them. The Baron groaned audibly, revealing uncertainty about the area's boundaries, even with Krem Kleij's confidence in the location belonging to Messersachs County. The Baron dismissed responsibility, stating it rested with the new bondsman not them. The company also debated whether or not to surrender certain confiscated items from the archaeologists, mainly a magical haversack, and whether they should reveal that they acquired a cursed necklace, taken off a Xorn. As for the rest, Baron Bart advised them to "let it go" for now, promising to consult the baronet about the detained archaeologists.

During the next five days, the Red-Gold Company also scouted locations for their bastions, which Baron Bart later approved for construction. The government provided dwarven engineers, masons, lumberjacks, carpenters, and building materials at no cost, though high-level magic users for spells like “Rock to Mud” were not readily available. The company planned special facilities, such as workshops and arcane studies for crafting magic items and generating income, and considered hiring a major domo, cook, guards, and maid servants locally. The company then began clearing and shaping land for their bastions. Timador also met with the Viscount Ludwich Mefni of Messersachs and his wife, Fru Solphie to discuss Timador's plans for a Teleportation Circle, and Solpie’s hope that she could soon decommision the one in her home.

The Red-Gold Company then traveled 55 miles overland to Kleinhafen, a port city west of Hartewald, arriving the night before the ceremony scheduled during a Cool Autumn festival on Day 109. After a long rest at the Dragon Castle, they met with skalds (to document their exploits), artists (for portraits), and a herald (to review ceremony procedures). Some of the party's family members also showed up for the knighting. Following the actual oath-taking ceremony (and the receiving of wolf-themed identifiction and ceremonial gear), Timidor received a sending from Shaman Chjell, reporting troubling signs of activity near the pukje's egg caverns, where the shaman knew the company had previously explored an underwater ziggurat. As the Shaman didn’t indicate immediate danger, and likely expected the Knights to come the long way via ship to investigate, Baron Bart suggested that "The Red-Gold Knights" first participate in a festival in Hartwald, mingling with regional nobles.

Stroop decided to perform for Princess Fahari of Tief Liegend, and he earned 40 gold pieces and her admiration. The knights also participated in a magic item auction, acquiring a Potion of Supreme Healing and a Wand of the War Mage +2, while also selling off some of their redundant or lesser items. Electing then to revisit the ziggurat area, the knights kept its sigils secret, and Timador cast the Teleportation Circle spell himself. But instead of within the ziggurat, the company teleported atop a 200-foot stone pillar in a desolate volcanic wasteland, surrounded by ash, high winds, and a murky night sky. The pillar held barrels and crates of homesteading supplies, marked by a note from "Vraspir the Variscite" requesting they be left untouched. Vraspir's note also indicated "Hey: I'm coming back for this stuff soon, and I'd appreciate you leaving it alone. It's just common stuff that I need and took time to assemble. Worth 250 gold. If for some reason you feel entitled to it, just take this bag of gold instead. Or, better yet, leave it all." The party left it alone for the nonce.

At the base of the pillar, they spotted a shivering humanoid, whom Stroop and Sagon discovered was Hereward the Rhyme-Ruffler , a bard from Belanore (an elven city on the isle of Kraldjur). Hereward revealed his party had recently discovered and intended to use the ziggurat as a base, but, when they tried to teleport back to it, they accidentally teleported to this pillar instead. They battled with a "frost fire dragon" in a lava tube cavern a mile or two away, and Hereward was magically frightened and forced to flee. Thereafter, the extreme heat and cold of the region, tuckered him out. Yrsa cured his exhaustion, and the company, after a short rest themselves, rode their magic horses to where Hereward indicated to confront the dragon. In the tunnel, Timador's owl scouted a giant fire lizard and Salamanders, sparking combat. Yrsa hit with Sacred Flame, Kime struck with force arrows, and Voglefest (as a Giant Ape) dealt massive damage. A dragon then appeared, with Sagon fighting it directly and Stroop and Timidor landing blows via Eldritch Blast and Lightning Bolt. The dragon's attacks and breath weapon wounded those up front, but Timidor's final Lightning Bolt killed it, only for an even louder scream to be heard echoing through the cavern, hinting at a greater threat nearby, possibly the dragon's mother.

The next session will be held live and take up immediately from there. It is difficult, however to determine what day and time it actually is, possibly around 18 o'clock. If they surviive, the Red-Gold Knights is able to long rest whenever they wish.


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