Game-Summaries:2/7/2020 Recollections

Recollections by Jeroy

Receiving our Orders

Amon has reached out to me to assist in stopping The Dreadhorde that Marches towards Aethelfirth. What follows is a summary of our mission to stop the Dreadhorde at the Pardor Pass in hopes that it provides the citizens of Aethelfirth additional time to evacuate. We begin by finding Warden in his makeshift Druidic Grove within his chambers of the newly constructed Magistery. "Amon. This information is helpful. What else do you know?"

Amon responds "I don't know this for sure, Warden, but we suspect their objective in Aethelfirth may be tied to an artifact kept there since the home of Lord Aethel. Our Order's own records on past missions indicates it may tied to the Seal and the Ring Magic that presumably powers our magistery rings. Their objective at Windy Bluff we're still trying to determine, but it's likely their choice of target is equally deliberate. Based on what I can tell from their marching speed both armies will strike at roughly the same time, a little over two weeks from now. Something in the makeup of the army is obscuring them from scrying accurate counts of their troop sizes, and it's a natural occurrence that blocks even true sight. As such I can estimate the total size of their force to be roughly 10,000 strong split between a large garrison at the former Folcom Keep and the two, smaller armies on the march, but I don't know exactly how big those armies are. This is all from reconnaissance by scrying over the past several days, and everything but the last part has also been passed along in a report within House Blue." Amon hesitates uncertainly, but then continues, "Military matters are outside of my specialty, but my understanding of the geography of the area suggests we might be able to delay the army marching on Aethelfirth if we collapse the Pardor Pass, which might buy us the time needed to meet them in the field at full strength in both places."

Jeroy's has an idea and proudly adds to the conversation "Could we collapse the Pardor Pass onto them? Kill one army with many stones as my mother use to say." Warden looks at us both as though this is all new information. "I.... The Magistery has a chapter in windy bluff. We should defend that city first...." He pauses. "but yes.. Pardor Pass... Good idea Amon. Yes go do that." He mutters to himself for a moment and then turns back to you "that will be all. Jeroy since you're here go tell Kord."

Jeroy makes his way to Kord's chamber, knocks and enters to see Kord looking over a massive map of the Pardor range with a vast amount of lines and annotations all over it. Without even turning to address you Kord speaks "Soldier, Report"

Jeroy responds in a typical manner of fact tone "The eternal army marches to windy bluff and Aethelfirth. They have split their forces in unknown quantities but their total strength is believed to be 10,000 men. A fellow magister by the name Amon has attempted to scry upon them to learn more but heavy fog, either natural or magical, blocks his vision. We informed Warden who prefers to defend Windy Bluff. Amon has a plan to slow the army approaching Aethelfirth by collapsing Pardor Pass. Warden ordered me to provide a report to you. The Eternal army leaves a large force in what remains of Folcom Keep." Kord turns to face Jeroy, appraises him for a moment and then depends to the map.

"Right here" he points to one of the lines going into the mountain range. "This is my ancestral home. Dwarves haven't lived there for a few hundred years, who knows what lies in the caverns now" he turns back to you and sees your puzzlement. He turns back to the map and traces the line, you see it leads you to the Pardor Pass. He turns back to you looking for understanding in your eyes.

"Sir, intuition is not my strong suit" Jeroy bluntly responds "Do you want us to investigate the caverns to see if we can use it to take down the Pardor Pass? I can lead an away team. I'll make sure no one random from the red join us, for their own safety."

Kord responds through his distracted mind "take whomever you like. I'm sure you can find a large enough contingent willing to go." He turns to face Jeroy completely "and Jeroy. Whatever happens... Do NOT take that blue axe from off my shelf" he turns back to surveying his map "Dismissed. You have your orders."

"Yes sir." As he leaves Jeroy makes a sign appear on the wall above the axe in big crayon looking letters that reads 'NO TOUCHING'.

Jeroy returns to find Amon standing the hallway "Oh you haven't moved. Seems with so much going on you would go to do something but anyway." Amon scowls at him. "Kord ordered me to lead an away team to the abandoned caverns that lead to the Pardor Pass. I'll assemble a team."

Amon nods to Jeroy "Gods be with you, if we fail to delay them the consequences for Aethelfirth will be dire. If our suspicion of their motives is correct, the consequences for the world could be more so." Jeroy nods, thinks to himself, nods again and leave for the Keep

Assembling the Team

Jeroy enters the grand hall of the keep. He creates several green shower of sparks and sounds of bells ringing, in his booming voice he announces to the hall "The Green has ordered me to investigate the caverns that lead to Pardor Pass. The Pass is the last choke point between the moving eternal army and the town of Aethelfirth. If needed we must be prepared to collapse the pass to give the city enough time to evacuate. Who would like to join me on the away team?" He is greeted by Ford, Tallulah, Iago, and Loco.

"You have my steel" Ford says as he sheaths his rapier.

"And my bow!" Talluah adds in.

"Annnnnnnnnd you shall haaaaaaaaaaaave my...." Iago begins to sing but is cut off by Jeroy.

"Your songs, yes thank you I got that" He says in monotone.

"And you have my potions!" Loco adds with a thunderous roar as he spikes a potion to the floor that erupts in a cloud of smoke around the Eternal Order. "To the Magistery!"

The team leaves the Keep and makes their way to the Magistery to request the help of fellow Magisters to aid in the battle. As they walk through the halls Jeroy turns to the group "So who and how many should we get to follow us? Anyone owed any favors?" Iago sounds a few melodic notes and dances to the front of the group. "Leave that to meeeeeeeeeeeee!" He says as he dances away and around the corner. Jeroy hesitates, blinks, and then looks to the others. "Perhaps we meet back here in a hour? Go make sure you have all the supplies you need." He tells the other.

The group returns to find Iago surrounded by 17 members of the Magistery, two masters from each house and three additional of house green. We are joined by Celenwe (Brown), Domus Durocco (Brown), Felicia (Blue), Wyny (Blue), Reshi (Green), Ancis Decaius (Green), Sasisbai (Green), Nisa (Green), Vargo (Green), Gina (Yellow), Wisakedjak (Yellow), Tamus Bonuso (Red), Kali (Red), Sacra Fadanius (Gray), Niditu (Gray), Voltaire (White), and Uchala (White).

"Jeeeeeeroy! I've found more to join our initiative." Iago announces with a flourish.

A smile comes over Jeroy's face "OK, no point in standing around and trying to figure out our chances - lets go into the caverns. Who knows teleport?"

Iago interjects "We don't even know the exact locations of these caverns friend. That is not something one should attempt to teleport to. First we will need to identify the exact location we wish to transport to. Amon and perhaps some of the newly recruited masters can assist in scrying an appropriate location. We should have sufficient detail from Warden to be able to find an appropriate nearby location that we can spy on."

"where are we going?" Says Felicia. "I wasn't about to leave this one alone on a suicide mission" she nods towards Iago.

Jeroy responds to her "Kord showed me the entrance to Dwarven caves that have been abandoned for hundreds of years. They lead under the Pardor Pass. We need to head off the Eternal Army at the pass"

Felicia nods to the group "I can bring us close. We should approach on foot, we don't really know what we're getting into, it would be dangerous to teleport directly into the mountain, or frankly even right next to it. I know of a river that feeds from the Pardor Pass, we can teleport a day's walk downstream and walk along the river bank. What say you?"

"Works for me." Jeroy responds.

"Agreed, that is the safer route and leaves us time to figure things out." Iago sings back.

“A lovely stroll along a river before a high likelihood of doom? Why not.” Ford adds in.

Celenwe juts in "can we have until tonight before we depart? I have a number of experiments I'll need to carefully dismantle and reassign"

Sasisbai is heard letting out an audible groan "ugh let's just get on with it."

Reshi tries to keep the peace and says "this is Jeroy's idea, why doesn't he decide?"

Jeroy looks over Ford's shoulder and says to Amon "Amon you know the movement of the Army the best, do we have time to wait?" The entire group turns to face Amon who is standing behind the group. As he waits for Amon to scry he turns back to Celenwe "Celenwe - what happens if you don't disassemble and reassign the experiments? Is it worse than a city being overrun by an invading army?"

She raises her eyebrows at him and visibly tries to calmly say "Maybe you're right. Maybe I should stay instead."

"I don't mean to be rude but this is the reality that we face." Jeroy responds "If we wait too long a city can be lost. If leaving the experiments could cost us to lose Solace then by all means, tend to them. But if we delay too long we risk losing Aethelfirth. So I ask you Master, how much time do you need?"

Iago, seeing the situation escalating interjects between them "'I'm fairly certain another 24 hours to prepare is fine. The last time we decided not to wait was meet with total disaster. Is prefer that tonight or tomorrow if that works for everyone and perhaps we can use that time to enlist further help." He motions to Jeroy with a grin that says without saying 'Don't you agree friend?'

Amon pulls put his crystal orb, stares deeply into and responds "They're still marching slow enough that they should arrive in 3 weeks. While we have no way of knowing what you'll face in the caverns unless your attempt is significantly delayed you should be able to set out tomorrow and still achieve the objective."

Jeroy turns back to Celenwe and with a slight bow of his head he says "Celenwe, take the time you need with your experiments. If an extra hand would help I offer my services." Jeroy turns back to the group "Everyone - take this time to prep, we may not be back for a while. We leave at first light."

Celenwe sniffs and heads off to the artificery. Jeroy turns to Iago and says "I take it she doesn't want my help?"

Iago responds through cackling laughter "What makes you think that Jeeeeeeeeeroy?" Jeroy sniffs and leaves to speak with Kord as he continues to hear Tiefling giggling follow him down the hallway.

Heading to the Pardor Pass

Celenwe, and all of the others have returned to Felicia's chambers, after Jeroy enter, Felicia turns to everyone engaged in private conversations "It looks like everyone is here, shall we? I know a good spot that will work for us." She pulls a massive diamond out of her pouch and traces a circle on one of her walls. The diamond slowly disintegrates as she does so, leaving a glimmering line in its wake. Once she closes it the loop, it begins to glow, and the wall inside of the circle slowly fades and a fresh scene of a beautiful countryside with morning dew on the grass and a babbling brook presents itself. Felicia gestures to the group and bows slightly, "After you."

Ford jumps in without hesitation and we all follow. We are immediately hit the grassy green air, sound of running water, and far warmer climate. The humidity hits us like a wet towel, it's the rainy season in this equatorial, lush region of Eomas. After everyone is through, Felicia steps through and closes the gate behind her. Felicia approaches Jeroy privately "Just go upstream and we'll hit Pardor Pass. Jeroy, you know where we have to part from the river to find this cave, right? Why don't you lead the group. I hear from Cordite that you've started prepping for your Master's Trial. This will be good experience for you, it's not just about the thesis." Jeroy responds to Felicia. "Follow me" he turns to Tallulah. "I could use your help. Based on the maps from Kord I know the route but crossing terrain is your specialty."

Tallulah responds with energy "Absolutely! How can I help?" Jeroy describes the bend in the river he remembers from the maps and the direction the group will need to head once they find it to Tallulah. After describing it he says "You lead take point and scout ahead to be sure we aren't walking into a trap."

Tallulah successfully navigates the grasslands with ease finding the overgrown path that leads to the cave of Kord's ancestral home. It appears that there haven't been any footfalls on this route in quite some time, one full season at least.

Jeroy kneels before the cave and begins to recite a series of chants softly to himself. Soon a ghostly dwarven warrior holding a book in each hand appears before Jeroy. Jeroy speaks to his ancestor Unliff. "Unliff, we intend to enter these caves to provide passage to the Pardor Pass." A feeling overcomes Jeroy and the result is as clear as it can be: Weal. Jeroy turns to the group "Unliff agrees we should go in. Can anyone cast alarm on the entrance after we pass in case something follows us?"

Celenwe pulls out a spool of string and lines the cave entrance "Consider it done. Everyone in, and I'll activate it." after you all enter, she casts the spell and the string glows and then fades to complete invisibility. Tamus steps up "Let's set a false trap too just in case" and he casts an empty glyph of warding "They'll dispel this and think they've outsmarted us, and trip the alarm. Or they won't, and they'll just die. Either way..."Using Tallulah's mapmaking, Wethril's nose, and Jeroy's stone and rock expertise, we are able to navigate the caverns with relative ease, even stumbling upon a few ruins here and there, evidence of a civilization long gone. We eventually come upon what looks like the path towards Kord's ancestral home, the hall of the mountain dwarves that first began trading with Aethelfirth, the reason that Aethelfirth became the shining jewel of the northeast that it is today. There is an engraving although it is covered in moss and lichen, clearing it reveals the ancient dwarven lettering, DURMANNUS. Going down this path would mean missing our deadline, but we have noted its location on Tallulah's map.We find some evidence of goblins in the caverns, but as we are not approaching silently all that remains is their hurriedly broken down camp and signs of their flight.

Jeroy turns to Tallulah "I bet DURMANNUS it was an important hall. Everything I think is important I write in big letters too."

"Jeeeeeeeeeroy, everything you write is also in crayons. And I've yet to see anything you've written that's not in big letters." Iago blurts out through laughter.

"If it's worth writing down then it is important" Jeroy responds. Iago stops his laughter and confusion rolls over his face as he contemplates if he was just outsmarted by the barbariest of barbarians. As he pauses he sees Ford digging around into the cracks of the walls, pull out a mushroom and eat it.

"What in Avernus' name are you doing?!?" Iago says with surprise to Ford.

"They're delicious, want one? I have a bunch." Ford says with his mouth full. Iago holds back vomit as he rejoins the group.

Aside from that, there are no unusual sightings on out way to Pardor Pass, which as it turns out we appear to be directly underneath. There are shafts and old dead steam vents that rise sharply and allow some sunlight in, but many of them look to be hundreds, perhaps even thousands of feet above you.As you are currently underneath the Pardor Pass, the small mountainous trail that breaches the Pardor Range.Jeroy turns to the group "Can someone reach the surface from here to scout it out? Can anyone walk up walls or fly? I know how to swing a hammer, pick things up, and put things down. Can one of you lend your expertise to get yourself or several of us up to the surface?"

The Pardor Pass

Niditu and Ford share some words privately, from the outside it appears they are talking about nothing in particular but then all of a sudden they shake hands and agree to something. "Hold on to your mind palace!" And casts a quick spell, Ford turns wispy and eventually becomes fully gaseous. The vent goes up passing varied veins of mineral, following harder deposits along new paths. The centuries of condensation and drip have left the channels glossy where they aren't moss covered. Finally racing to the topmost opening you see the expansive rocky landscape, a canyon just before you and mountains as far as the eye can see. Poking out into the open air Ford swears he can see the shadow of Mithaniel Marr in the distance, even as far away as it is. The path on the ground below him races back and forth in hairpin zigzags, but even at this elevation the lush grass and light, humid air is extremely palpable in his current state.

Laying the Trap

"Well that’s beautiful!" Ford says as he takes in the vista surrounding him. "I’ll sink back down the vent and inform everyone of our current location, and give everyone epic hero wind hair, like everyone has a small fan in front of them.

Ford returns to the group and shares what he has learned. Jeroy contemplates and speaks with Iago, Loco, Ford, and Tallulah. After some back and forth they nod in agreement and Jeroy lights a torch and holds it above him with his mage hand. He motions to the group: "OK everyone lets get our head together. From Ford's investigation of the pass the army isn't in sight yet. We should have time to prep the Pass to collapse. Loco - I'll need you to take lead on demolition prep and execution." Jeroy turns to Ford. "Ford, you know how to get the drop on an enemy better than anyone I know. Scout out above and figure out where the best location is to launch a surprise attack would be. We will need to be close enough to hit them hard without them seeing us." Jeroy turns to the Masters "Which of you could teleport us back to the magistery in an instant? The plan will be to lure them in, break the pass, hit them with the biggest and baddest spell you have in the confusion and then disappear." Most of the masters raise their hands "given a one day lead time we can have a few of us prepared with teleport, if we divide into squads of less than 8."

Jeroy nods and points to three of the Masters "3 of you begin prepping teleport along with Ford at the surprise attack location or locations. We set up teams where one is ready to get everyone out of dodge, one is ready to blow the pass, two have the biggest spell prepped and the others defend the group until we are teleported away." Jeroy turns towards Loco. "take those you need to prep the pass for collapse." and the faces the rest of the group. "Those not prepping teleport or demo - start getting ready to pull something out of your goody bag. Toss whatever spell you want to try and either hit them hard or slow them down. We will get one shot (Surprise round?) for each of us to send something their way."

Iago receives a sending from Amon."You've been gone one week. Army marching at steady pace. Will reach your location in one week. Still shrouded in fog." Iago responds to his sending "we are under the pass and have explored routes to the surface. Exploring options for collapse and slowing the army. 2 weeks slowdown max."

The team spends the next several days preparing for the approaching horde and hoping the evacuation of Aethelfirth has begun. The team is expecting to only provide an additional two weeks before the horde arrives. It weighs on all of them that it may not be enough time to save everyone. Jeroy and Iago are constantly in discussion about what to do best with their prep time. Jeroy snaps his fingers and turns to Iago "What if we sent a small group to the army to try and blow away the fog that covers them. The information could be valuable. Their numbers, special forces, weapons? We could teleport a druid close enough to control the weather and then zap away all while Amon watches above."

"I don't recall magic having much effect on the fog. I would be curious to know if weather can move the fog, that is not something we tried" Iago responds. "Where's our library? Would that have information on this? Who is a brown?"

Jeroy points at Celenwe and Domus who are decked out in brown cloths.

Iago dashes over to them "Masters, do we have information on our library on these topics? We seem to be operating half blind. Not enough whispers have been reaching my ears and we need to understand this foe better." But before they can answer Iago receives another sending from Amon. He pauses nearly mid-sentence as look of horror washes over his face. He looks around in a near panic and finds Jeroy and drags him around a corner to a dusty tunnel.

"Jeeeeeeroy! Aethelfirth have been informed however evacuation has not yet begun. From previous communications, I know that the Seal has direct connections and they are aware. Amon said that 2-weeks will have to be enough."

Jeroy's face becomes blank. He cannot seem to even comprehend what Iago has said. "They haven't started the evacuation?" Iago and Jeroy together feel a greater sense of urgency unlike even before. If they fail to slow the horde now not only will Aethelfirth fall, but nearly everyone in the city would surely perish.

Jeroy comes from around the corner of the caves "Huddle up again everyone!" the urgency in his voice echos through the caverns. "I looked at the map of the pass again and we need to make sure we close to the door to Aethelfirth and not open it for this horde." He looks to Loco. "Loco - as you set your charges, be sure that we are blowing the tops of the nearby mountains so they slide down into the pass. If we could create landslides to fill the pass we could block it and maybe even destroy the army. What survives the slide we could finish off with our magic before we leave. How goes the demolition prep?"

Loco turns to his team helping him "Preparations are going according to plan, they have been a great help. We will collapse the tops of the mountain down onto the pass so it buries them in the valley or makes the pass impossible to traverse."

"Good" Jeroy nods "Reshi - how go your preparation?"

Reshi lets out a rye smile "We have something in store for them. The browns were able to find out that fire is our best bet."

"Excellent. Lets hope it is enough. Dismissed." Jeroy says then quietly "Please let it be enough."

Springing the Trap

The trap at Pador Pass

For a final time Jeroy gathers the group, ignites a torch and mage hands it over him has he lays out a map. "The Eternal Army is expected to arrive in a day and our preparations are complete. We will all be turned into wind and fly up to our defensive positions here, here, and here tonight and wait there for them to arrive via this route." He says pointing to the map. "We will be split into three groups. Each group will have one person on the demo team, one person ready to cast teleport, one or two people ready to defend the position, and the rest to cast down their biggest and baddest spells. Loco will give the signal to the demo team to blow the charges. The moment you see the charges go off - the Tossers cast whatever you have cooked up. Expect to only have one shot so make it a good one." He pauses "If you are assigned to defense, your job is to make sure the caster's get their spells off. If a member of the Eternal Army attacks your position the defenders are to get in the way and protect the Tossers." "Finally, to those prepping teleport - our primary job is to block off the Pass, not to eliminate the Army. Make sure the charges go off and the pass is blocked. Once that is confirmed be ready to get your team out of there as soon as it is too dangerous. If the Army attacks you then it is time to go. Once the Tossers have cast their round of spells it is time to go. All of us need to come back from this so we can fight another day. Teleport to the library of Solace. We will confirm everyone made it there." Here are your assignments: Team one: Demo - Loco. Defense - Jeroy and Cordite. Teleport - Domus. Tossers - Reshi, Ancis, Kali, Uchala Team two: Demo - Celenwe. Defense - Stanford, Sacra, and Niditu. Teleport - Vargo. Tossers -Sasisbai, Nisa, Gina Team three: Demo - Iago. Defense - Tallulah and Wyny. Teleport - Voltaire. Tossers - Tamus, Wisakedjak, Felicia.

May your god, clan, or patron be with you." The group makes their final preparations and head to their positions. The Pass is quiet and serine with the faint sounds rustling mountain grasses swaying in the breeze. The peace of the moment makes the anticipation that much more frustrating. Each group sits in their foxhole knowing a force of unknown size, unknown abilities, and even unknown creatures marches towards them. Even the Masters have a glint of uncertainty in their eyes. After nerve wracking hours of nothing a fog appears in the valley below.

As we watch the distant fog growing closer we begin making our final preparations, clambering the demolition sites and settling into the ambush points, our final spells fall upon the land awaiting the dreadhorde's arrival. The fog moves with a vast hulking shadow in the center, and as it draws near we hear the heartbeat thumping of a massive creature's footfalls. In front of the fog appears to be a shambling wall of zombies, humans, we recognize the colors and banners although disheveled and bloody, as hailing from Folcom Keep.

We allow the dreadhorde to enter into the pass, waltzing right into the trap. It's complete mist now, we can barely see each other in the same hideouts let alone the others, or the horde itself--suddenly an intense pressure causes our vision to go black. There's an intense cacophony of noise and a high pitched ringing. Pain suddenly settles in from everywhere as our senses return, our vision turns to gray again and the sounds of banshee wailing, of moaning zombies. And then the fire falls from the sky, burning the mist and fog away in an inferno as if from the bowels of hell itself. Finally we can see, the mountain pass is avalanching rock thousands of feet tall, the Dreadhorde has been completely buried and burned. A massive, hulking beast of a creature lies at its center, but only its head. The rest of its body appears to have fallen into the caves under the Pardor Pass. Covered in soot and smoke we gaze out upon the battlefield, they didn't stand a chance.

In the distance we see someone standing far in the back in glistening black full plate mail. A blackguard of the enemy. They cock their head towards the group, presses their hand upon their chest and bows. Then they simply blink out of existence.

Dreadhorde Backguard