• Level Up granted
• Recon from previous session: Tyke and Bono remained behind in Ghantra City to review Baron Randolph's library.

Stormslayer Estate

Exports: Food, Wine, Cloth, Quartz, some Iron.

Jean-Luc and Prentice have an indepth discussion regarding slavery and indentured servitude. Prentice points out that many of the "servants" on the estate are slaves. They are bound into servitude for an unspecified amount of time. Even those that are indentured, may have sentences not befitting the crimes of which they were convicted.

JL is originally hestistant to over-rule the original sentencing. He says if the individual was convicted, the sentence should be carried out. In addition, the servants are providing a necessary service to the country during a time of war. Prentice asks that JL request over-sight of the servant situation by a family member to ensure the servants are treated properly and released on time.

Indentured Servant History:
Type I are Britigines, listed as dissidents. (I believe they were involved in an assasination attempt on JL).
These include 7 Priests, 3 Lay Priets and 2 Chainbreakers (Paladins).
Type II came in from surrounding lords, most of these have 10-20 year sentences. Conchita admits that some have indefinite terms (the lords view these last ones as the most troublesome).
Type III are prisoners of war (captured in Tarsk, mostly from New Bragney. It is unusual to find regular soldiers moved away from the frontlines. The army usually puts these prisoners to work maintaining camp basics.

Conchita says she has only purchased those contracts that make financial sense.

Prentice and Rondax wear JL down and get him to agree to the following:
Type I: Prentice is still looking for a way to have these released. Due to his efforts, their conditions should improve drastically.
Type II: sentences will be cut in half.
Type III: maximum of 5 years of servitude. If released under these terms, they must go south away from Tarsk.

Due to the nature of the charges against the Britigines, they must be handled separately from the other servants. Conchita does agree to bring in a priest to check on everyone on the estate and to handle any healing that is needed. Prentice isn't thrilled with the idea, but it is better than what is currently going on.

Conchita meets with Prentice and Rondax after they finish discussing the issue with JL. Conchita admits that under the current conditions, the Britigines are problematic. They do not bow to the whip. Prentice would like to get them freed, but currently has no viable options to accomplish that goal. He expresses his hope that Conchita will at least give them a purpose on the estate.

The estates book-keeper is appalled by the mandates when Conchita informs him of the changes. He also informs Conchita that there is another shipment of a dozen prisoners of war coming to the estate courtesy of Alexis Stormslayer.

Meanwhile in Ghantra City

Tyke and Bono remained behind in Ghantra City to take Baron Randolph up on his offer to research spells in his personal library. The first day in the library, they find the restricted section. They break into the section after disabling the mundane and arcane traps, then dispelling the arcane lock.

Once inside the restricted section they find the books are chained to the shelves and the floor is covered in a powder. Tyke casts levitate on Bono and pushes him towards the shelves. They purview the books and find some interesting spells.

Bono learns Alborine Shift, while Tyke attempts to record End Wall. The Baron interrupts the research as the evening approached. The pair hastily finish their spells and make the restricted section appear to be locked. The Baron claims he visited to warn the pair that the shadow traps activate at night, and both of them should be out of the library before that occurs.

On the second day, Tyke realizes his initial copy of End Wall isn't perfect, but it may serve another function (something along the lines of Bounce Wall). He does however correct the translation to fully learn End Wall.

Additional spells are learned over the course of the five days they spend in the library.

Back to Ghantra City

The group rejoins Tyke and Bono in Ghantra City to prepare for the trip to Silverwell. JL decides he would like to arrive in Silverwell with an air of mystery. Would like to take a cart (empty) with us into the Dwarven Lands. The also decide to take a squad of 20 retainers; including a cook, a monk (speaks Dwarven), and Flood Irongate. Before departure Sol trades his copper plate for a suit of masterwork steel plate. Tyke is knighted at his request and now holds the title of Lord Arcane, equivalent to a Baronite.

Baron Randolph takes the group to a tower in the barony. Along the way he explains that there is a transportation circle in the dwarven lands that appears to be operational. He believes this circle is close to Silverwell, but not exactly where. As the group enters the room, Bono and Tyke attempt to memorize the runes of the circle in the barony. The group with their retainers pass through the circle.

The Dwarf Lands

Arrival - Day 1

Game Date: August 24
The group appears in a grassy field. The climate is much cooler than in Ghantra. It's a mountainous region, appears to be the Dwarflands. There's a road within site of the transportation circle, but Sol doesn't know which direction to take head to reach Silverwell. Rondax Communes with Nature and locates a water source as well as the fact the ground is streaked with silver mines.

The group heads towards the river. Follow the river until they reach a bridge. The gatehouse on the near side of the river is garrisoned. The group can clearly see 3 orcs and a dwarf at the gatehouse, as well as a fourth orc in a tree as a lookout. The retainers begin to deploy JL's banners and Rondax steps forward to announce JL.

The leader of the Gagnerian contingent steps forward and announces himself as Mornak Lord Bender. He informs JL that the Gagnerians know of JL, would like to be recognized by the baronies. Mornak leads JL and his entourage to the gatehouse. The dwarf (Arthos Nearbright, originaly from Ark Geldar), appears to be a servant at the gatehouse, although he still plies his trade in silver when not deployed.

While the group shares refreshment with Mornak, he asks about our trip from the south. He's heard rumors of a Gargabeast from travelers on the southern road. In addition, hunting in this area has been bad. The group saw no signs of an unusual beast nor did they have any issues on their travels north.

Mornak also says that the Lord Reagent of Silverwell will be glad to see us. Any recognition or trade with any of the baronies would be good for the empire. Rondax reveals he is also an ambassador, but from the Beastlands. Mornak informs the group, they still have approximately four days of travel to reach Silverwell.

As the group departs, Mornak wishes them a safe journey and lets them know a rider has been sent on ahead to inform the Lord Reagent of JL's pending arrival. The group heads across the bridge and finds the other gatehouse also has its own garrisoned troops. Both the bridge and road north of the river are in better condition than what they found south of the river.

As the group travels, Rondax makes a survival check after approximately three hours. He's only able to find the trail of small game. However, he does notice a cluster of pine trees that appear to be broken off. The group stops to investigate the area. Rondax locates a set of tracks. The print appears to be made by a large creature with three toes in the front, with a fourth toe pointing in the opposite direction. Sol can't remember anything common to the dwarven lands with that type of print. Bono thinks back on everything he's learned and remembers something about infernal creatures commonly displaying that type of foot. Bono believes it to be from either a Nabassu (demonic) or an Abishai(devil). The Abishai's are trickier to deal with due to there being multiple types, each identified by a specific color. Rondax communes with nature to determine if such a creature is in the area...nothing located.

Shortly after investigating the area, the group starts to look for a campsite. Not many large clearings available so they drop some trees, set up a campsite, and set the watches for the night.

Day 2

The first night in the Dwarf lands passes without incident. The group breaks camp and continues north. Before noon, the group finds the orc runner dead on the road. It appears he's been dead less than 24 hours, most likely between 12 and 14 hours. Rondax speaks with the local wildlife. The animals describe the rider being attacked by a big creature that came from the northeast and went back the same way. The group searches the rider, discovering a metal amulet, a female statue, his saddle bags, and a sealed letter. Rondax insists on burying the orc. Bono opens the letter and Sol translates it for everyone before Bono reseals it and places it back in the bags. The letter doesn't contain much beyond the groups general description and purpose. Mornak makes a point in the letter of describing Sol as Geldarian. The group continues their journey north that day without any further excitement. They finally stop between 7 and 8 pm and set up camp on the road. Before heading to bed, JL summons a Holy Guardian to provide additional protection.

Watch order for the evening is Tyke - Rondax, Sol - Prentice, JL - Bono. In addition, there will be three members of the retinue on watch at all times. At approximately 3 am, the fires suddenly die down and something swoops out of the trees. Sol immediately calls out to the camp, but not before the attack starts.

The Abishai is riding a Chimera. Before anyone can react, the devil opens with a fireball, hitting everyone in camp. All of the retainers are immediately at death's door. The Chimera then flies by and takes a bite of Sol. The Chimera hovers near the tree line and the Abishia takes out the Holy Guardian. Sol is able to land a crossbow bolt in Chimera. Tyke opens with Sunbeam, blinding both the Abishai and the Chimera. Rondax prepares to pounce on the pair if they approach. Prentice, being prepared for the infernal creature, banishes the pair. JL casts Aura of Life retrieving the entire retinue from death's door. The group spends the next minute healing the retinue to their best of their abilities, then prepare for the return of the Chimera. With everyone preparing their action for when the Chimera returns and lands, it doesn't take the group long to dispatch the threat. Prentice finishes it off with a Flamestrike, leaving almost nothing left to identify the creature.