Call of the Father

After a monster attack in the Pellisberg town of Evert Gate, a group of interested people began to chase after the beast when they realized the odd circumstances surrounding it. They followed the tracks of two Chimeras to Adwendale where the notes of Orna Wellis were stolen. After a brief scrap with the Pellisberg Militia, they tracked the notes to Dral’Kaar Warden Francis MerCest, who was worried about possible connections between the Legion of the Dancing Winds and the Iron Tempest. Francis insisted on joining the hunt. The next day they found the ancient ruins of a temple to the old gods. Weyland found an odd earth stone imbued with the idea of Permanence, Sarai found a golden coin with strange properties, and Matilda found some flowers unlike any other. After experimenting with their finds, they reached a town that was the site of a recent battle. They helped fight off monstrous vultures there and followed the Chimeras into Roadon, where Orna led them through the desert to a set of Golden Doors. Outside they fought Drel’Mareath and entered to descend down to the ruins of Alkalandra’Mar. They fought a long living priest of Raerdrin who had strange powers relating to Permanence, and his chimeras. After his defeat the hunters were almost overwhelmed by a horde of Lion-Lizards, but were saved by a group of Poi’Mareath, Sonwa had awoken from a thousand year sleep.

Player Characters

 * Drashaaven: An old Poi’Mareath monster hunter, out for revenge.
 * Matilda Tillard-Pratchett: A young student of agriculture, looking to make it through the war.
 * Sarai Eveningstone: An Islander and sailor, now trying to survive the mainland.
 * Sonwa: An Iron Tempest Commando assigned to the hunt to watch Pellisberg and report any finds to the Kaiser.
 * Weyland Pharus

NPCs

 * Francis MerCest: A Dral'Kaar Warden, suspicious of Orna and Sonwa.
 * Orna Wellis: A Legionnaire and travelling companion of Weyland.
 * Silaar: A sleeping Poi'Mareath Captain

Midgame Documents
Reflections One : A set of short reflections by Matilda, Orna, Sarai, and Weyland, that take place immediately after the second session.

Reflections Two : A set of reflections from after the fifth session and the discovery of Alkalandra'Mar. The viewpoint characters are Francis, Sarai, and Weyland

Epilogue
Waiting for the Storm Queen: The campaign's epilogue from the point of view of Orna Wellis as the whole group waits for Rallia to arrive at Alkalandra'Mar.

A Report to the University: A letter written by Weyland to be delivered to Cape Red University, detailing the miraculous scientific finds of his journey.

Session Summaries
South of the plaza in Evert Gate, next to the manor of the town’s lord, was the library. Traditionally the library was run by the lord, but with her death and disappearance of her family three weeks prior, the library had been occupied by a company of Mordish troops. Evert Gate was functioning as a Crown command center for the nearby region. It was somewhat unclear who was in charge of the town. Military officers in Mordehall were not supposed to administer to everyday life. But with no lord, the people giving orders in Evert Gate were the Colonel of the nearby battalion and the Iron Tempest Commandos supporting him. So when a monster attack happened it took two days for any sort of defense to be raised. The Colonel announced he would increase patrols around the town, but couldn’t commit any troops to go after the beast. Instead, he put a small bounty on the monster’s head, and promised not to hinder any investigation. Now two days later, the victim of the attack, Evert Gate’s school teacher, met those who would follow the beast, at his classroom at the library. Entering the library through the main plaza gave a good look at the great brass doors in the middle of the square, the famous Gate, now just decoration. The library was of modest size by Mordish standard, with a circular central room furnished with dark wood, expensive paintings, and a high domed ceiling. There were wings to the left and right, stacked with tomes and scripts, and the classroom to the back.

Session One: Evert Gate
Five people answered the Colonel’s call to catch the beast. The first was an old Poi’Mareath monster hunter named Drashaaven. They arrived with two hours to spare, browsing the library to pass time. The second person was Weyland, a scholar travelling with a Legionnaire named Orna. Weyland went to the library while Orna searched the area around Evert Gate. Next came Sarai, a sailor from the Isles, and Matilda, a local farmer. Drashaaven tried to speak with Matilda, though she didn’t say much. The last person to enter the library was a well-armed woman named Sonwa in a faded white jacket. A few minutes after noon, the victim of the attack entered, an old man whose arm was in a sling. He apologized for his lateness and let them into his classroom.

The classroom was small, with a chalkboard in the back and a set of chairs too small for adults, forcing everyone to stand around awkwardly. The teacher described the attack. He had been sitting in his home at night when he heard a growl and suddenly the wall of his home was destroyed. In the dark there was a low form of a great beast. He held up his arm to defend himself, and was knocked out. He awoke to find the beast gone and his home destroyed. When he returned the next day he found that the only thing missing was a golden brick gifted to him some years back when he was a professor of geology. The brick was rumored to be from Alkalandra’Mar, the fabled City of Golden Sands, home to Raerdrin. All the monster hunters agreed this was unusual. Monsters were usually mindless, attacking only to kill. By all accounts the teacher should be dead and nothing taken from his home. They asked if he had been in contact with anyone recently about the brick. He said no, but with the turmoil someone might have sent him a message he never received.

The next step was to go to the attack site. The teacher’s house was on the edge of town. He told them he had it built ten years back when he moved here. It was once a nice wooden two story home with a garden. Now a wall was missing, the garden torn up, and the whole house teetered on the edge of collapse. The garden gave Weyland a good look at the monster tracks, who recognized them as belonging to a Lion-Lizard, a chimera sometimes called Raerdrin’s Hand or a Maned Serpent. Chimera’s were deadly creatures, more rare and dangerous than average monsters, but no smarter. It was odd that they would engage in such a targeted attack so far from the desert, their natural ecosystem. The hunters hypothesized that someone had managed to tame the chimera. From the tracks Sarai also realized there were two creatures, which made sense to Weyland since Lion-Lizard’s travelled in packs. Matilda found some fur which she recorded in her journal. The fur was rougher than cat hair. It seemed to be a blend of scales and hair. Suspiciously absent from the home was Orna, who told Weyland she would meet him here. That wasn’t unusual, she often wandered off.

Before leaving to follow the tracks the group did some preparations. Sarai and Matilda went to buy rations, Drashaaven explored the nearby woods which they found to be calm. The trees were far apart with wide canopies, the underbrush vibrant. Sonwa wandered through the teacher’s home. Weyland made glue. Sonwa found the display case which kept the golden brick. It had been shattered. When everyone returned, they caught a whiff of the strong glue Weyland was brewing. He bottled it and left a note for Orna.

The group took off, following the tracks. It had been two days since the attacks, but the serpents had torn up the ground and underbrush, leaving a clear trail. After walking for a few hours, they noticed a set of human footprints coming from the east and following the trail. Unlike the monster tracks, these prints were hours old. Shortly after, they heard voices ahead. Sonwa snuck forward, getting within ten feet of the group. Before her were ten Mordish soldiers. They wore polished chainmail, decorative swords, and neat golden jackets. Though stylish, the uniforms were not practical and the soldiers looked uncomfortable in the forest. They were arguing about the tracks. A young officer who bore the crest of a noble house, tried unsuccessfully to get them to pay attention. Sonwa retreated, relaying what she saw. Though the Colonel had promised they would be unhiderened if they hunted the monster, they decided not to risk anything. They swung wide of the group, finding the trail and footprints again half a mile later.

They walked until evening when the tracks changed direction. Up until now they had been going northwest, but they diverted now to avoid a town. This was also strange behavior. It was odd that the chimeras would target Evert Gate and avoid other towns. The group also noticed smoke rising about half a mile ahead. Sarai climbed a tree without telling anyone. Using her spyglass, she saw a single person in a grey robe. She told the others when she caught up. Weyland said it was probably Orna. He was proven correct when they entered the camp and found the Legionnaire cooking dinner. There were two rabbits roasting over the fire. After sending Saria and Drashaaven to collect firewood, she awkwardly exchanged notes with Weyland. She confirmed his suspicions that they were hunting Lion-Lizards. Meanwhile in the woods, Sarai was showing off her gauntlet. She demonstrated how it could move small objects. Drashaaven recognized that it was enchanted. Sarai tried to use it to grab some apples from a nearby tree, but ended up hitting herself in the face with one. They returned to camp, glad for the warmth of the fire. Pellisberg was far enough south to avoid the worst of the winter, but there was still a sharp chill in the air.

When they woke up, they followed the trail all day. As the sun was setting they approached a town called Adwendale. Like last time, the tracks diverged. However they decided to spend the night in town after Orna promised she could secure them space in the local temple. It wouldn’t be comfortable but would be indoors. As Orna went to the temple, the rest went to the tavern. It was small and dim but well decorated and warm. Fine drapes and paintings adorned the wall. Like most Mordish taverns it had a bookcase in the back. It was also occupied by a host of Pellisberg troops. They lacked a formal uniform, instead they were dressed in makeshift armor covered in purple dye and had three dolphins emblazoned on their chest. Every single one stopped what they were doing to stare at Sonwa in fear as she walked in. The group sat down at a table between the troops and local farmers. Sarai ordered everyone a meal and a beer. Those who didn’t finish, gave their beer to Sarai, who leaned back and put her feet up. The room was tense until Orna walked in. She informed the group that they had lodgings in the temple and left. Everyone scrambled to follow her.

They slept on the stone floor of the temple, close to the fire. As they set up their bedrolls, Orna spoke to Drashaaven, asking them about past monster hunts. Orna listened, telling him chimeras would be more dangerous, especially the lion-lizard which had not been seen in centuries. Drahaaven mentioned encountering a chimera before, one that took everything from them. Orna understood. She spoke of her past hunts, especially how much she hated White Badgers, then went to speak with Weyland. She asked him about their gameplan. They agreed something dangerous was happening that they needed to understand. The best way to proceed would be to let the tracks lead them back to the chimera den, where they could figure out why they had taken a golden brick. After that they all went to sleep.

Weyland woke in the night to see someone leaving the temple. He immediately woke Sonwa and Orna. Searching her bag, Orna realized her journal was gone and woke the others. Only Orna seemed to be missing something. Everyone agreed to help her find it. Sarai took to the roof to watch Adwendale. Orna and Weyland began searching the town. The other three tried to speak with Pellisberg soldiers. At this time of night the only people awake were soldiers and drunks leaving the bar. However the soldiers were no help, telling Drashaaven to piss off. They were unsure how to proceed until Sonwa spotted a lone soldier walking to the east. The figure gave no indication he saw them, as they followed. He calmly approached a farm and stepped inside.

Session Two: The Eternal Eye
-Weyland and Orna discuss the importance of the journal and how Orna can’t interfere with political events, but is allowed to retrieve her journal

-Notice lots of Pelliberg Militia moving towards the temple

-From the roof, Sarai notices Militia gathering the the forest ready to ambush Sonwa, Matilda, and Drashaaven

-she climbs down and runs to them

-They stop which springs the ambus

-Sonwa gets shot with a crossbow bolt, the militia seems to be targeting here. A small group run up to her and drashaaven and try to take down the Poi’Mareath

-Another groups gets in between Matilda and Sarai

-Sonwa and Drashaaven easily deal with the three soldiers in front of them

-A group steps out in front of Weyland and Orna. Weyland jumps at them, and despite his size and stature beats them unconscious

-Sonwa shoots archer/sergeant, Drashaaven runs up to the archer and kills him with their sword

-Matilda and Sarai take the others, Matilda hitting the last one with the flat side of her shovel

-Go to house, despite sound of militia rallying to find them, Sarai goes to the back

-inside house find a confused/scared family and the backdoor open

-Sarai sees the person from before running away, takes a shot with her wrist bow but misses. The man gets away

-chase after him into an olive grove. He seems to be well ahead but the Militia won't follow

-stop outside the grove to rest for a few hours

-Sarai has found his tracks even though there was an attempt to hide them

-Orna tells everyone they are in danger and needs to know what happend. They explain they were attacked. Orna says there might be an investigation into a violation of Sovereignty

-She also tells them she needs her journal back but following these tracks might lead them away from the chimera, both sets for now are going northwest.

-Decide to get Orna’s journal back, she leaves promising to find them soon

-Weyland tends to the wounds of Drashaaven and Sonwa

-Sarai offers to fix Sonwa’s jacket. She notices it is very high quality and padded. Also finds a pocket with a black bandanna and ring, looks for secrets pockets but doesn’t find any

-Matilda puts local plants including the olive trees into her nature journal

-In the morning they leave to follow tracks, Orna catches up with them a few hours later

-they lead to a small clearing between two great trees

-After searching, find a 12 pointed star etched into one of the trees and below it a metal hatch buried in the dirt, which matilda helpfully cleared with her shovel.

-Weyland hypothesizes that the symbol is of the Dral’Kaar, since it is like their six-crossed sword pendants

-Find a ladder leading down into the ground

-Orna stays outside since it is illegal for her to trespass on Dral’Kaar property

-find a tunnel with stone floor, nice wooden walls, and a silver door with the six sword sigil

-Weyland finds no traps, Drashaaven steps on a stone that sinks, nothing else happens

-Door is unlocked, Weyland slowly opens it and gets shot with a crossbow, almost dies

-Voice inside calls for them to leave says they are trespassing, they demand the journal back

-The voice insists that he has every right to take it under the Tenets of Sovereignty

-Drashaaven charges in. They get shot but ignore the pain and put their sword the man’s throat. He drops the crossbow alongside two other loaded ones

-Man says he is a Dral’Kaar Warden and tasked with investigating a possible link between the Iron Tempest Commandos and Legion of the Dancing Winds.

-Sarai finds the journal and several texts in the Warden’s Tongue

-She suggests they leave with the book

-The man says if they do or if he is killed, the Dral’Kaar will hunt them down and kill them all

-After negotiating he says he needs 24 hours to read the book or he can accompany them

-Drashaaven wants to know if there is a possible connection. The group agrees to let him accompany them after yelling up to Orna

-Matilda uses Weyland’s medical pouch to heal him

-Sonwa and man talk, his name is Francis and he promises her it’s not personal and he doesn’t hold the Commandos accountable, only the Legion

Session Three: Places Long Forgotten
-the group makes camp above the Dral'Kaar hideout. Orna checks her journal for tampering, Francis lays out and checks his gear.

-group makes awkward conversation as Sarai goes to get firewood

-Weyland asks Drashaaven to train him with a sword. They agree and will do it tomorrow

-Francis offers a crossbow and gets a blade and bow for Weyland

-next day head due south to refund the tracks

-when they are refound it looks like the chimeras continued west from Adwendale

-follow them for a bit before getting to some ruins. Sarai realizes the chimeras mist have stayed here for a few hours

-ruins don't have much but weyland dates them to before the War of Ascendance

-most noticable is a hexagonal building that was once a tower but is not only five feet high. Weyland uses earth magic to search the ruins and finds no danger but something odd beneath the tower

-they all go to the tower, find it is a temple with one wall to each old god. Raerdrins wall is the least decayed and has strong vines with white/gold flowers despite the winter. Sarai and Matilda each take one.

-drashaaven throws a rock at ghendars symbol

-Matilda and Sonwa dig below raerdrins wall to find what weyland notices. It's a small godstone but more powerful and embedded with the idea of Permanence like and ancient mountain

-no one here has ever seen a godstone like this before, or even a modified godstone.

-This begins a philosophical discussion on the nature of magic and gods. Weyland asks Orna what this could mean and if this god is from Raerdrin. Orna explains that godstones are imparted to the world by the gods. What makes a god is that they are their own source, each one containing thousands or millions times as much magic as a single stone, no one is sure the exact amount. Gods are different than Poi’Mareath cause they can impart magic.

-Drashaaven asks if Raerdrins source is still active and if this godstone connects. Orna doesn’t think so, saying that Ghuramor is the source of earth and this stone connects to him.

-While this is happening Sarai takes a peak at the tracks and notices something shine. It is a gold coin, about the size of a talent but circular and with a lion with a lizard tongue on one side.

-She takes it, it is very heavy but lightens the longer she holds it. When she grabs it she feels farther from the ocean than she has ever been.

-She takes it back and tosses it to Weyland. It almost knocks him over and he feels the remaining resonance of his earth magic. He tosses it to Drashaaven who does fall from the downward pull. Drashaaven has a hard time connecting to their innate magic.

-Eventually leave following tracks

-one night later do some experiments with the flowers, which aren’t wilting, and the coin.

-Make tea from the flower petals which Sarai drinks, soon notices she isn’t getting more tired but also doesn’t have more energy. She runs around and stays at the same level of exhaustion. When she cuts herself with a blade, she bleeds slower but still hurts.

-Start messing around with the coin. Give it to Sarai and have her jump around and throw it. The coin seems to have a downward pull and affects whoever holds it. While sarai has the coin she feels tethered to the ground. At Orna’s suggestion They try throwing it at something in the air. When the coin and log collide, they both stop moving horizontally and drop to the ground. When the coin is tied to an arrow and fired into a tree nothing happens. When it is fired into a log thrown in the air it drops.

-That night Sarai can’t sleep

-On third night of following the tracks northwest, find a town which was the sight of a recent battle between Mordehall and Pellisberg

-Town has a small garrison of six Crown Regulars, they appeal to Sonwa for help with their monster problem. Flocks of Smoldering Vultures have been attacking after battle

-Also saw chimeras ride by. Sonwa speaks to villager who saw them. The villager says there was a figure with them riding one, covered in a storm of sand and with harsh glowing green lights for eyes.

-Sonwa investigates Earl’s manor, who abandoned it before battle. She finds some notes indicating wavering loyalty. She takes them

-Sarai and Orna search field, find bodies burned and tracks. Notice a broken ballista. Orna suggestions to Sonwa to suggest to Francis to guard the villagers when the vultures attack

-Saria finds sand in the field and very large feather

-Next morning prepare for flocks of vultures

-About forty of them attack with the dawn. The hunting party hides in the nearby forest where Sonwa had mordish regulars drag some dead bodies

-shoot some down before they attack, Orna starts channeloing a rain spell, points out weak spots of vultures of Drashaaven

-As the vultures come down, Weyland beats a few of them with is fists, sarai strikes a few with her cutlass, MAtilda strikes with her shovel

-The swarm is overwhelming giving everyone scrapes, cuts, and burns. Weyland gets lit on fire, Sonwa puts him out with her jacket, leaving her exposed. She gets cut and weyland pouts her puts with her jacket

-Her a loud call and see a giant vulture coming from the north, where it goes it lights the ground below it on fire

-Matilda and Srai scramble to ballista, matilda quickly identifies the problem and fixes it. They begin to load it

-Orna channels spell but it doesn’t go well, only a light rain comes down

-Sonwa and Drashaaven kill most of the remaining vultures, Drashaaven uses their innate magic and the residual strom magic from orna, to create a backdraft on the arrow. First bolto goes wide. Orna tries to shoot it with Sonwa’s bow but the arrow does almost no damage to the big vulture.

-Sarai ties the gold coin to a bolt and fire, it hits the giant vulture dropping it to the ground and keeping it still.

-last small vultures go to ballista, Orna and Drashaaven kill them

-Take time to load ballista, and execute the giant bird.

-Sarai passes out, Weyland is deeply wounded, everyone else is tired and hurt.

Session Four: Children Beneath the Open Sky
-After the battle, Sarai collapses. She is brought back to the town’s temple

-Orna apologies for the failed spell

-Drashaaven grabs a feather from the demonking while Orna and Weyland study it.

-Matilda looks after Sarai

-Sonwa goes to Earl’s house, finds a cat

-After recovering for a little, the whole group minus sarai goes north at Orna’s suggestion to find nest. It’s up a mound of rocks on a small hill.

-Sonwa throws up grappling hook, they climb and smash eggs, find some rusted armor, weapons, and the ring of a lord minor

-take one egg back, try and cook it. It tastes like rotted flesh and char

-They break into the earls house again, read his books. Matilda takes a hat.

-They put together a really nice meal and invite all the soldiers and townsfolk. Sonwa leaves them a stamped note for the earl

-in the morning the next day Sarai wakes up eats food left for her.

-They steal a few cases of wine and leave for the tracks.

-travel for four days to the Roadani border, trees begin thinning

-find shore of the bay, avoid the mordish and roadani towns

-camp at night in the cold savannah, see fire of another camp

-in the morning sonwa goes to investigate, sees a Roadani border patrol

-travel another day south which leads them to a wide river

-Sarai and weyland make a small raft out of reeds and glue. Not big enough to sit on but is buoyant.

-avoid the barges going down the river towards the Roadani fortress at on the bay

-cross, get attacked by alligators, Drashaaven gets their leg bit

-fight off two alligators and distract them with thrown meat

-get to otherside, weyland patches up Drashaaven’s leg

-they hide their raft and go back into the tall grass.

Session Five: At the Golden Gates
-sarai takes gator teeth and starts to make a necklace

-Sarai climbs a tree, sees distrubed grass about a mile downriver

-refind tracks after going east, very obvious

-at some point Cybil runs away, sonwa trusts him to return

-notice footprints with chimera

-find signs of a struggle

-cybil meows and returns, leads sonwa to a dead body

-it is a dead Legionnaire, Orna recognizes him as Tenthin, who was in the Jarem desert hunting Drel’Mareath

-weyland learns Tnethin died by poison

-find his notes are missing but his great bow and Threnish Iron arrows are still there, sonwa takes them

-continue following tracks after a few days reach the desert

-spend a night at an oasis, refill water, worry they might run out later

-entering desert, Orna leads the way even though there are no tracks

-go through desert, on second day see Roadani Patrol, Sonwa and Francis hide behind a dune

-Orna goes to talk to sergeant in charge

-they all speak with patrol, cleric watches them. They get water refill

-Sergeant Tennox give his name and mentions that the Spear Mother is in the desert hunting a dangerous beast in the west

-go south to avoid patrol, regroup with francis and sonwa, matilda fives francis a flower forma  cactus to “match his cheery disposition” he seems happy

-two days later reach the end of Orna’s trail

-drel mareath with gold inlays emerge from the sand

-when people get hit by a lance, they get knocked down, matilda and sonwa get hit

-Orna instructs them on how to break Drel’Mareath armor

-Orna, Sonwa, Drashaaven, and Sarai kill the lancers and rook

-weyland kills pawns

-start looking around

-dig out golden door, Matilda finds more sings of life including cacti and flows

-open door by sticking alkan gold from DRel to door and pulling like a handle. The gold seems to stick together

-find antichamber and descent

-stairs overgrown with thorns, Matilda uses shovel to clear the path

-find overlook onto ruins, 200 foot drop

Session Six: Alkalandra'Mar
-Group discusses what to do, Sonwa and Sarai descend with as much rope as they can and climb the rest of the way down. Drashaaven and Orna stay at ledge to anchor the rope. Weyland, abd Francis go to surface to gather supplies, Matilda makes flower tea.

-Sonwa’s cat drops down the cliff to meet Sonwa at the bottom

-Sonwa and Sarai climb up one of the ruined buildings to the top floor. Drashaaven shoots the rope across on an arrow. S&S anchor it. Weyland anchors it above with glue.

-All others climb across, very dangerous

-Alkalandra’Mar is abandoned and cold. No life is here except signs of chimeras

-They find a scale model map of the city showing six districts (art, war, crafting, religion, farming, homes) and a central complex

-They are currently in homes, decide to go to War to get supplies

-hear the roar of a chimera

-Find the sections divided by canals, with the bridges between homes and art destroyed. The river seems cold and to be imbued with Permanence

-they find a brass door to slide across broken bridge to cross

-break into amrory and get weapons including Poi’Mareath sword-spear

-go to central complex, find there is no door in only smooth wall

-go to crafting to get alchemy supplies

-small fight with a chimera, Drashaaven gets really hurt and the chimera runs off

-get explosives

-want to go to Religion but find it swarming with Drel’Mareath

-blast huge hole in the wall of central complex

-see signs that the temple is active

-go there find Priest with chimeras

-he talks to them about Nezeril and the real war

-offers to ally with them against Nezeril

-they attack anyway, he has weird permanence magic and doesn’t seem to use godstones

-hear pack of chimeras approaching

-floor is unstable, it breaks and sonwa drops below

-she finds catacombes, priest drops as well

-above they kill chimeras after tough fight

-sonwa slits the priest throat and takes his shield

-above they are unsure how to handle the approaching pack, go below to find sonwa

-Sonwa finds sleeping earth Poi’Mareath including Captain Silaar

-wakes them, runs into group

-they fight the thirty chimeras

-go above to desert while Orna calls Rallia