Adventures on Aquerius (Part II)
| Start Date: | Harvest 5, 800 WK (05/05/800) | Finish Date: | Vintage 12, 800 WK (12/06/800) | Duration: | 38 days |
|---|
- Scribe Notes: <a href="aquarius/sunsword-notes.pdf">aquarius/sunsword-notes.pdf</a>
- GM Notes: <a href="aquarius/visit-2.pdf">aquarius/visit-2.pdf</a>
| Ty Trident | 3500 |
| Tulip | 3000 |
| Christopher | 3000 |
Adventure Preview
The High Lord Harcount of Hamburg, a city state in the County Tuscana, has requested a party of experinced adventurers to search for the sword of the last Sun King.
Several previous parties have been hired to investigate the plane of Aquerius where the sword is believed to reside. Currently the High Lords believe there are three continents. One contains a motley collection of backwards counties and duchies, one is not known to have any civilised life and the third is unknown.
The continent known as the Sunlands own held a vast and powerful empire ruled by the Sun King. It is believed that some sort of civil war left the place ruined and cursed.
The capital city of Republica is known to be damned and occupied by various undead and unholy. The city is build on a river around five hills. The first held a temple which has recently suffered a major explosion. The second houses a palace, thought of be royal residence. For reasons unknown the palace has not suffered any major damage but is largely vacant of furnishings. It hot not been investigated indepth. One the third hill is burnt ruins of the vast collection of buildings. This has not yet been touched. The forth hill contains a large number of cruxifications, hangings and cages. The ground is black and desolate. The top of fifth hill is covered in grass and known to be blessed. This is considered to be the safest place in the city but is very exposed.
High Lord Harcount is wanting to hire a party to search the palace and the ruins of the forum. It is hypothesised that there is a crypt or library beneath the ruins which may have escaped the touching.
Payment is 3000 silver pennies for a week's work. The High Lords however claim possession of all magical or unique loot. Compensation for recovering items will be given but only for the risk involved.
Diary
Hired by Sebastian of Hamburg, to find the Sun Sword from the Sun Empire on the plane of Aquerius. This is supposedly a sword made from pure sunlight, it also has an individual true name. Spend the day getting ready. Flamis sells 2x rk 10 weapons of flame, Callas sells 4x rk 5 trollskin to party funds.
Then thru Rune portal to Grenada to see Cornelius for magic loot. Waters of Str(4), Healing(12), and restoratives(4). Rune of protection and luck each. Loaned an amulet of Calcedony and Iron each. I Divinate the staff which activates planer gate obelisk. He also says that some creatures will pull you into a different time-frame, they must be killed to return to "normal" time. Sleep. Leave east to Valencia. Sleep at an Inn, next day head to hills. Make camp at foot hills. Ride thru river pass to Stone Circle. Teleport to Aquerius Temple, each member loses 10 FT, which wraps, per use of the portal. To close to night (undead activating) so we go back, and try tomorrow. Portal in a couple of hours after dawn. Find the sanctified hill, and head NW out of city. Find a house to hole up, then notice that 4 Bonegolems were shambling after us (seem to be weakly following our "life trail"), we lure them to an orchard, and set it alight which burns them, but some flaming humans appear which also try to pursue us. One runs up to Christopher and explodes doing 29 damage, we shoot the rest from range. Retire to farm and rest up. That night during first watch, we get attacked by a dire wolf(Mind mage) and a dozen dogs, slay them all. Sleep.
Need to search Imperial Palace, Forum (for senate), and Temple. Recon for the day. Sitting in the tower we notice that bones/corpses slowly start pulling together, sunlight slows rate of accretion, full dark probably very quick. Smashing them before they animate seems to work. I divinate "the city" -
- Area is Damned
- People who die have their souls trapped, as more people were killed, city became worse
- Lifeforce, fire etc act as loadstones to the spirits, this allows them to manifest physically
We check out the Holy hill, and partly clear/repair the road from the gate to there. The grass seems to differentiate the sanctified bit. Divination revels -
- Consecrated ground (to "God"), +50 MR
- All undead must make MR to be on it, then willpower to stay in area (also same for demons)
- Aura strength indicates done by human or long-lived sentient.
Search the town a little. Find a ghost in a cellar, probably owner of house, who speaks elvish -
- Titus Leanius Victor was the last emperor, who went to western continent on campaign and never returned
- Seems like an anarchy uprising later occurred against the nobles (killed on Hanging Hill), a short time later the senate was burned by looters
- There might still be a library in the Forum
- The 12 Tribes fled and left the land
- The elves left a long time ago, but are rumoured to return sometime
- When asked about the Holy hill, says he doesn't know, but a short time back there was a "short night"
Ghost wants to die, so kill him. Do a runner from the city, and rest up. Next day head back. The road we cleared still looks fine, then go to stone circle, and portal back to Alusia. Report to Cornelius 7/6/800.
