User:Lhynard/Projects/Imago Deorum/Campaign outline/Summary 3

Dates
Alturiak 27 – Ches 20, 1372 DR

Summary
They set out on their journey, along with the two paladins of Torm, to Memnon, stopping at one of the Trade Way minarets to examine one of the omlar gems used to protect the road. Hakam visits his temple and is reprimanded for not learning the cause of the skeleton disturbances. He is told to seek forgiveness and guidance from Anachtyr. In a prayer chamber, he is sent a hound archon as a messenger, who gives him a special mission, which was more important than the matter of El Sadhara. They speak to the Guild Arcane about their omlar gem. After restoring order in the group and calming Belvin down with magic, the PCs visit the wizard Oadif, who uses the spell identify on the omlar gem, revealing that it is a portal key. Likewise, amlakkar are sent to the Golden Grove, where Leokas and Belvin are staying. Before the amlakkar arrive, Hakam comes with the two paladins. He uses his knowledge of Calishite law to buy them all time so they can escape the city. They cross the River Agis into Tethyr. Belvin notices that something is wrong with his camel, Kamil, who looks like the roof of his mouth is falling out, but after a few moments, it returns to normal. They then encounter a peasant who says that his master, the farsann's mules have escaped, and he requests their help in rounding them up. They do so and are sent to el Daraqadim to receive a reward. They learn that the countess is Kyrin Hawkwinter and that her former fiancé was slain by gnolls over a year ago. Her wedding to her new fiancé, Farsann Rontal Qirattar is planned for the month of Mirtul. Jayce seems to suspect that Rontal is untrustworthy. They learn that the paladin Rhinda had left on her own that morning, presumably because of how Mythlos had unjustly executed their prisoner. Her traveling companion Gamalon and Leokas and Belvin ride after her, concerned for her safety. On the way back, Leokas spots Rhinda's horse's hoof-prints leaving the road. They find evidence of a battle and follow gnoll tracks to the west. They search and discovered the secret entrance to a gnoll lair. Back at the Cliff, the others learn more about the day Master Ersemm was ambushed from the captain of the guard, Romar Burnhill. Leokas and Belvin scout out the gnoll lair and encounter a troll. They realize it is far too powerful for them and flee. They return back to the others to report. The next morning, in a secret meeting with the countess, Jayce informs them of his discovery that both Master Ersemm and Rhinda are alive. They presume that Kyrin was the intended target of the imposter, and that Rhinda was unfortunate enough to look so much like her. Kyrin sends the PCs on their way, instructing them to find someone who recognizes in what language the second half of Dagnyra's journal was written. In the meantime, she would send word to Count Krimmon Amethystall and Duchess Marilyn Haresdown for help in investigating the gnoll tribe said to be near Vineshade. Leokas prays to Solonor Thelandira about finding an animal companion. They deliver a message to Countess Hawkwinter about their discoveries about the doppelganger. A strange woman breaks into tears and screams when she sees Mythlos, but her son refuses to let them talk to her about it. They set out along the River Ith toward Darromar. One night, Jayce wakes up in pain with his tattoo hurting. They find a traveler named Mick who bears a tattoo that matches with Jayce's. Both tattoos cause pain if the two move away from each other. Both received their tattoos from priests of Erevan Ilesere in their pasts. Mick decides to travel with them, as it seems like the gods have brought them together, and he was heading to Darromar anyway. They arrive in the capital, make a plan, disguise Jayce, and visit Malick's tower. He welcomes them in. They report that they had found his gem but that it was taken forcefully by the amlakkar of Memnon. They mention the efreeti Allu, and Malick shares his story with them.
 * The PCs discuss recent happenings in Faerûn at the Friary of St. Amahl.
 * They arrive in Memnon and sell some of their treasure.
 * Hakam informs them that he has new orders to go north to Myratma, so all of them will continue traveling together into Tethyr. Vashti sets a large sum of money on a table and announces that she has paid of her debt and will be leaving the party, as she has no reasons to go to Tethyr. Hakam tries to arrest her, since she is an escaped slave. She drinks a potion of invisibility and escapes, and Belvin stabs Hakam in the gut.
 * Amlakkar arrive at The Fine Gold Chain to arrest Jayce and Mythlos on trumped-up charges. Jalavaerra Ishtra helps them to escape out the back. They go to the House of Justice to get Hakam's help.
 * While passing near the ruins of Memnonnar, the PCs encounter two humans and a half-orc who request assistance slaying a hydar so they can access the treasure in a cave it guards. The PCs detect no evil, so they agree and slay the lion, but it turns out to be a trap, and the three turn on them.
 * After a viscous battle, they cure and interrogate one of the three bandits who had not been killed, but after questioning him, Mythlos executes him, to the utter horror of the paladin Rhinda.
 * As they travel along, they hear rumors that the countess is going to be marrying her farsann soon.
 * The three elves descend the cliffs to the ocean and go for a swim on the backs of magically summoned sharks.
 * The PCs meet with Rontal and are rewarded with money and a ring of feather falling. He also allows Hakam access to his scribes, who copy for him the laws of the Kingdom of Tethyr, so he can learn them.
 * Leokas, Belvin, and Gamalon reach the gnomish village of New Sundrah, whose mayor is named Samber SeMilderic. They stop to see if Rhinda had been seen, which she has not, and they make a note to return later on the way to Myratma, to ask the mayor about his name. They reach Myratma, having seen no sign of Rhinda. Gamalon enters the city to search for her and tells them to meet him in The Gambling Ghost inn in a few days. The two elves then head back to the Cliff.
 * The two elves return to the others and share what they have found. They plan a rescue mission, but first Jayce uses magic to message Countess Hawkwinter and convinces her to meet with them in secret. They meet her and are struck with how similar she looks to Rhinda. She agrees to join them on an adventure to slay the tribe of gnolls who may have killed her former fiancé. She secretly leaves her estate and she and the PCs travel north to the gnoll lair, accompanied by a group of horsemen led by Captain Burnhill.
 * A bloody assault of the gnoll lair ensues. Kyrin, Burnhill, and the PCs are victorious, though Burnhill is nearly lost, and Jayce is shot accidentally by Leokas.
 * The injured are cured and the lair is explored. They discover and free human a human slave with dementia and find evidence that Rhinda's horse has been killed and eaten. They find her armor and supplies, but no sign of her. They also find noncombatant gnolls, which Kyrin has executed. They find the gnoll lieutenant's and chieftan's rooms and their journals and a secret passage leading to the ocean outside in the latter room. They interrogate the gnoll lieutenant and learn that the gnoll chieftan, Dagnyra, kept Rhinda to herself, which was unusual, and that she (the chieftan) was not among the slain. They also learn of a larger tribe of gnolls near the town of Vineshade, before executing him. Kyrin leaves some of her guards to watch for if the chieftan will return, and they return to el Daraqadim.
 * That night, Kyrin had a celebratory feast for Captain Burnhill and the PCs, (while keeping secret that she was a part of the battle.)
 * Also that night, Jayce uses magic to read the gnoll journals. Gnyrn, the lieutenant, described how they captured and tortured Rhinda and how the chieftan, Dagnyra, was furious that they had captured the wrong woman. Dagnyra's juournal seemed to prove that the real Dagnyra had been killed and impersonated by another creature. It also described how this imposter ordered the capture of Garron Ersemm and how he was taken alive to another location.
 * The PCs head north along the road with borrowed horses from Countess Hawkwinter. They visit the gnomish village of New Sundrah and learn a little bit about shapechangers and illusionary magic, but the mayor is not the Samber connected with their omlar gem.
 * They arrive in Myratma and visit a sage named Asavir, leaving the gnoll journal with him to study.
 * Some of them stay at the Gambling Ghost Inn, where they were supposed to have met Gamalon, but he is not there. Hakam, Mythlos, and Jayce play a high-stakes talis game with the famous ghost and win.
 * A terrible storm strikes the west coast of Tethyr while Belvin and Leokas are in the countryside searching for an animal companion for Leokas. In the night, while sheltering from the storm in a cave, Leokas meets a black wolf and names her Stormshadow.
 * They stayed in Myratma for a time, training in their skills and regaining their strength. They learn from Asavir that the script in the second half of Dagnyra's journal was that of a doppelganger. They also learn that Kamil is not sick; the thing coming out of his mouth is called a dulla and implies that Kamil wants to mate with Hakam's new pack camel.
 * They stop at a village called Steddford. That night, there happens to be a raid by goblins, and the PCs help defend the hamlet.
 * They continue on the next day and encounter some more gnolls and some worgs.
 * They continue traveling and encounter a band of wild elves.
 * The PCs continue on. Just before reaching Darromar, Jayce confesses that he had been sold into slavery by Malick after breaking into his tower.
 * Malick describes being at sea when his ship was captured by a group of hobgoblin pirates. He remained hidden. The pirates shipwrecked on a cold island. They abandoned the ship and began living in caves on the island. One day, an efreeti named Allu appeared in the caves claiming to be their new god. They and he repaired the ship, and he ordered it back to the mainland. Malick stowed away on board in secret. When they neared land, he escaped on a row boat, but not before he had stolen the omlar gem from Allu's quarters.
 * They learn that Malick has no idea who Samber is, and he never knew the runes on the gem spelled out that name. He guesses that Allu used the portal key to arrive on the island from the Elemental Plane of Fire.
 * The PCs discuss what to do next. They decide to query Sseth for advice, so they contact him with a scroll of sending, to learn that he has found Allu's palace but is being held prisoner by a blue dragon.