Curse of the Crimson Throne Recap # 69 [RPG]

 [Sunday, 2 Arodus 4708 A.R.]

 

On the eastern shores of a crater lake high above the plains of Belkzen, the Harrowed Heroes have arrived to find potential allies—or enemies.  Realising he may have acted too hastily in refusing to sign Shadowcount Sial’s magical contract, The Reckoner calls him back and asks to look it over.  Having just arrived at the doorstep of his magical bone house, Sial purses his lips in annoyance, but complies.  Although no one in the group is particularly knowledgeable about lawyerly drafting, the contract seems to embody the substantive terms discussed between them and the Brotherhood of Bone just a little while ago.  The Reckoner announces to Sial that he’ll think about it, a reply which only further irritates the haughty arcanist.  Followed by his bodyguard, he turns in place and enters the tower without another word.  Laori Vaus, the surprisingly-cheerful Kuthite member of the Brotherhood, smiles apologetically before following them in.  It’s clear there’s no love lost between the pompous Sial and the amiable Laori.

 

Once they’re gone, Yraelzin rounds on The Reckoner, shouting that he spent days negotiating with the Brotherhood for their assistance in Scarwall, and that in a matter of minutes the alliance has been completely destroyed!  The Reckoner says entering into a partnership with the Brotherhood would be too dangerous.  Yraelzin stomps away to try to salvage something of the deal, only to find himself locked out of the bone house.  Sial, it seems, has considered the newcomers’ actions a personal affront.

 

Anorak speaks up and says he needs to return to Kaer Maga to collect his familiar, Eldritch.  The Reckoner and Goldcape are interested in going as well, having realised during the journey here that some additional enchanted items would be useful for their explorations of the castle.  Forgetting to mention anything to Yraelzin, the three travellers teleport to the City of Strangers.  Anorak finds Eldritch right where he left him.  Unfortunately, the shops they need have already closed for the day, so the trio decide to spend the night in the same inn they rested in previously.

 

[Moonday, 3 Arodus 4708 A.R.]

 

In the morning, various purchases are made in Kaer Maga—a magical iron spike that allows for safe camps even in dangerous areas, arrows that may slay powerful foes with a mere graze, and (provoking some disagreement) a powerful healing wand.  When the trio teleport back to the crater lake, they find a very annoyed Yraelzin who was forced to sleep out in the open, alone, in hostile territory, with no idea where his supposed friends had gone.  The bone house is also missing, and Yraelzin grumpily explains that Shadowcount Sial and Laori had a very loud argument earlier in the morning and went their separate ways after Sial shrunk the tower back to figurine size.

But whether they have allies or not, the Harrowed Heroes haven’t come this far to turn back now.  They discuss the best way to approach Castle Scarwall and decide against a crossing by land (the causeway) or sea (the lake), and instead choose air, hoping to slip in quietly through an entrance into the massive structure’s upper works.  Goldcape takes out the miniature figurine of Rocky and, with an arcane syllable, returns the roc to its normal size.  The vanara then exchanges Rocky’s barding for a custom-made, four-person passenger saddle, everyone climbs on, and Rocky takes to the air.

 

The final approach to Scarwall has begun, but under a portentous omen.  For upon the third of Arodus falls a new moon, and this night will surely be covered in darkness.

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GM's Commentary

A lot of disrespect for poor Yraelzin in this session.  First, tearing up the contract he spent loads of time negotiating off-screen, and then the rest of the party completely forgets to tell him they're teleporting back to Kaer Maga--thus leaving him all by himself in Belkzen!  I was a bit personally irked, because although he was a GMPC, I worked really hard to make Yraelzin a well-rounded figure who could contribute to the party since the group was usually under the expected 4 PCs.

Otherwise, this was a very short session and frankly, not a lot happened!