Game-Summaries:10/6/2017 Recollections

Recollections by Jorg

I had decided to sign up for a mission to cleanse a desecrated temple of Corellon. This mission had come from The White (Headmaster Leda), a house I had not worked with before. I’m interested in each house’s outlook on our situations, how they assess us, and their domain’s priorities. As if designed for interpretation and critique, our mission was “Cleanse the temple of Corellon and deal with the bandits as you see fit”. I barely had a chance to learn my new compatriots names before Cassio had us at the stables. I like his assertive nature, overzealous as he is. I got to work with Zanna and Kaylorr again, and we all acquainted ourselves with Ember. Along the way to the village where the shrine was desecrated, we listened to Cassio wax poetic about himself while I explained that Corellon is THE god of elves. While kind and powerful, Corellon only disdains Gruumsh and half-orcs.

Oh, joy.

We arrive at the hamlet, and it shows signs of desertion. The clearly half-elf settlement (traditional human dwellings with very elvish embellishments) was bereft of life, supplies, and signs of struggle. Why people gather along racial lines for safety is beyond my comprehension. Your own people can’t keep you more safe if everyone is as craven and incapable as you. Fresh footprints lead us to a broken statue of Corellon overlooking large doors as an entrance to the temple. We entered the lightless cave-temple and noticed all magical torches were out. Hearing a dialect of elvish, we respond with indication to our mission for the Magistery. Realizing that the dialect is definitely not from Eomas, we approach with trepidation. They respond by trying to shoot Zanna with poison darts. We respond in kind, taking the fight to the dark elves.

After many dark elves were put to the sword or ran away in fear, a lanky, quick, and wiley blackened elf approached with malice. He had no issue striking Cassio and I, and used his own magical skills to literally put us in the dark. Thankfully, everyone learns the Light spell, and my crowbar became the most useful tool in everyone’s bag. We find the rogue enemy and dispatched him. We puzzled over his death curse of “USTEG EL O NOS” or some such.

After a desperately needed rest, we discovered a broken wall that revealed a tunnel to the dark elf hideout. A giant Black Ice Gang symbol glowed on the floor before a recess containing 4 large chests. After several close calls with trial and error between Zanna and I, we get all 4 chests across the Glyph of Warding. The silver coins were minted with a set of scales weighed town only on the left side. Kaylorr reminded us about the Black Ice Gang’s attempts to gather components for a Chaos Curse. The counterfeit coin could be a destabilizing force, or a replacement currency. We are still unable to see the forest for the trees.

After loading up the horses, a tentacle mouthed mind-speaker watched us prepare to leave. He “said” in our minds not to follow him as he turned to leave. He seemed mostly unconcerned with us, but summoned a one-eyed, floating aberration to eliminate us. Zanna and I would have been decayed if not for Ember, Kaylorr, and Cassio. Limping home, we are sent to The White’s chamber with only dooming wishes from Melvin.

So as to not interrupt her channeling of a spell, we wait for Headmaster Leda to address us. We inform her of our mission, including our mending and reconsecration of Corellon’s temple at the hamlet. When we probed for answers as to the origins and future concerning these dark elves, The White was most forthcoming.

Headmaster Leda informed us that the black elves are a race of elves unique to a plane called the Underdark. These Drow are not common because only about 200 years ago did our planes first converge to share space. The Drow’s poison is also unique to their plane, along with the mind-controlling fungus and their spider goddess, Lolth. Headmaster Leda told us the Magistery’s objective to wipe out the Drow threat. When asked whether the Drow deserve to be respected as a sentient race, as goblins and orcs. They may need to find a balance. Normally lofty and slightly unfocused, The White focused a curt response indicating “no warmongering race will be tolerated.”

To Melvin’s surprise, we were alive to ask him what the dying Drow’s phrase meant. Without a perfectly accurate recollection, “USTEG EL O NOS” most likely means something along the lines of “I will kill you for daring my faith” or “I will kill you as the faithless”.

Melvin is finally helpful.

Recollections by Kaylorr

10.27.345CE

Another successful mission again. Ended up travelling with Cassio and Ember again which was just as entertaining as it was last time. We were joined by the ever so tiny Zanna and the brutish Jorg. Together we were sent to some abandoned village to cleanse a Temple of Corellon that was found to be desecrated by someone or something. We found the Temple to be a mausoleum of sorts that led underground where we came across odd looking elves with onyx skin. (Drow as we were later informed) Although we walked ourselves straight into an ambush, it turned out that these Drow are easily spooked by Lolth....or someone pretending to be Lolth....me...I tried to be Lolth...After taking quick care of the minions, we then attracted the attention of a bigger elf who came at us roaring in Drow. What he said, we aren't sure but through some translation texts back at the Magistery we think it meant, "I will kill you for the faithless..."

After an intense fight, we stumbled upon a hole in the wall that led us into a bigger cavern. From there we found evidence of what looks to be someone planning some sort of coup or takeover. There were red banners with the Black Ice sigils embroidered on them. Basic smithing and jewelry making tools strewn about. Loads of freshly made, blank silver pieces ready to be made into some sort of new currency. After some time dealing with an acid trap (blame Zanna) and building a bridge from bodies (ask Cassio and Jorg), we loaded as much silver unto our horses to make the slow trip back home.

But first, let me tell you about this tentacle face thing we came across or what is better known as a mindflayer. So Jorg did what I guess noble half-orcs do and decided to initiate conversation with this thing and ask about the previous villagers. Next thing I remember is Cassio and I dragging the limp bodies of Zanna and Jorg back to the mausoleum below after being attacked from this floating tentacle covered eye creature. With no time and no escape route left, Cassio did the only thing he thought he could do. Alone, he rushed the creature (a Spectator we were later told) as heroically as an old soldier could. It was as if time slowed and I could faintly hear "My Hero" from that famous Bard Troupe, the Fighters of Foo, playing from somewhere overhead. We gathered ourselves, shaken but no worse for wear, and slowly proceeded back to Solace chased only by the laughter of the Mindflayer.

We later met with Headmaster Leda who filled us in about the information we gathered. The currency we found is definitely not from Solace or even this world but more so a different realm altogether. The Mindflayer we encountered were only discovered about 6 -7 months ago and these Drow are thought to have existed for about 200 years. They come from a realm known as the Underdark, which is also the secret home of this Lolth. This is where Headmaster Leda claims the currency must be originating from. Same thing with the Black Ice Gang. I wonder what we will be sent on to investigate next. Either way, I can't wait...

PS Melvin is creepy....