//
//Context: The players made their first trip into the region of the Elven Republic, a traditionally xenophobic and isolated area, while looking for an old ally. The written bits for Esoht weren’t a verbatim “Let me talk at you”, but guides for dialogue with players.
They then made their way deep into the dark underneath an expansive mountain range, had a bunch of separate but engaging encounters, before finally reaching the prison where the ambassador was held.
Side note: I took the idea of a Deathweb from Pathfinder, an animated giant spider corpse swarming with little spiders in an AOE around it, and modified it a bit, creating what is today still considered by some players the most disgusting and terrifying attack they’ve suffered: a hardened, hollow web spear, that after impact, would release hundreds of small venomous spiders into the wound.
//

Session 93 – July 30^th, 2017

Esoht’s Evasive Elven Excursion

This Week

Having eliminated the Chromatic elder dragons and emptied Exniar’s cave of the remaining treasure, Extraneus Bigas returned to Colareton, and caught up on some much needed rest. After setting several tasks in motion [everyone gets 900 GP from materiel sold to Siverj for Colareton], the party decided the time had come to meet with Olien, the Elven ambassador they saved in Latrim. It was time to go to Aievel.

Tree traveling to the peak opposite the Great Gate, they then crossed the Span under heavy guard and close watch, entering the cavernous city freely. After learning the basic layout, they went to the Rajaad to see Olien. Instead, they met Esoht, Olien’s envoy while he’s out serving his diplomatic duties in the city of Jethna.

While the party was happy to hear a quick rundown of info from Esoht (even if they were less than happy to learn so much from him instead of one of their own…) they wanted information only Olien had: where and why Exniar’s relics were given to the Infernal Lords, and what the Elves know of Vecna and of the Ascendant Plot. Resolute in the next step of their quest, Esoht offered to take them on the Yo’Lak Ka Aie-Na, the passageway between Aievel and Jethna.

As the party prepares to head out, Esoht asks for a moment to gather some materials for the journey. He touches a ring, and disappears for a moment, leaving a circle inscribed with Elvish runes where he was standing. Two minutes pass, and he returns, wearing padded robes, and with a longsword at his side. He urges the party out of the city with all due haste.

Once they’re in the tunnels, he goes to the side of the main road and asks to speak with them. “First, don’t mention Kalara again, or at least not that she’s in the Underfires. Definitely abstain from mentioning that she bound Daronzar. He’s known to the Republic. While I’m glad you let me know, that’s not information that you want out there. I’ve left instructions for the two guards nearest us to…have accidents…and as far as I could detect, there weren’t any listening spells in that room – that’s why I chose it – but you can’t be too careful. Justified or not, the death of the Latrimanians’ sole heir by Elven hands would spark a war, and that’s absolutely what some factions would love to see. Now that we’re outside the city limits, I can speak more freely, so listen closely: Olien and I have been working with the Latrimanian monarchs for nearly thirty years, and The Burning Heart for longer than I’ve been alive. We have evidence, circumstantial, of course, that portions of Jethna have been collaborating with and acting under the direction of certain Celestial agents, and we fear the same for Hiyam with Infernals that are likewise part of the Ascendant Circle. The conspirators above and below are partly responsible for the War of Blood & Steel, and now they seek to disrupt the Republic’s progress at unraveling their machinations, or worse, to try to turn us into their unwitting weapons again.”

“Jethna and Hiyam both have been vying for power beyond our laws and councils, and while the Mikir is aware, the general population and the Kengash remain ignorant to the threat we face. Civil war is on the horizon, but it is the least of our issues if we don’t find Olien and learn all we can about what the Ascendant have planned. That’s the “diplomatic excursion” Olien left for, and he was checking in with me daily. Those check-ins stopped a week ago, shortly before he was supposed to leave. I fear for him, and much as I wish to immediately uncover what’s happened, I learned long ago the value of patience and caution. So, we will not be taking the main road to Jethna. As soon as we’d arrive at the city gates, we’d be detained. While I’ve no doubt you could fight your way free, doing so would spark a conflict that could ignite the powder keg we’re trying to disrupt, and as such, I won’t allow it. We’ll be taking one of the back ways into the city: once we’re inside, I can cover for you being there – I grew up in Jethna and I’m a member of the currently dominant house… that wouldn’t matter to the Fazesh at the gate, but the regular Sena patrolling the streets will fuck off when I assert my ‘authority’. We’ll look for Olien, but if I’m right, we’ll need to use the tunnels to get back out of the city and to where they’re holding him. Hopefully they’re holding him… but that’s later.”

“For now, we need to focus on the journey ahead. We’ll be taking the old halfling and gnome paths – they’re excavated and roomy, but winding. The route is simultaneously more and less dangerous: there’s no patrols here, so no chance of a diplomatic incident, but that also means there’s no one clearing out the creatures that lurk in the stone and shadows. I’m sure that won’t be an issue for you, though. It will take longer to reach our destination, but doing so without the Fazesh knowing we’re there is the only way we’ll get Olien back.” (~12 hours travel)

 Risky Rocky Republic Routes

Four hours pass as you make your way through the caves and caverns. You stop briefly by a stream (short rest) before continuing. There’s not much of note in the quiet stillness; you pass by lots of strange mushrooms and occasionally deal with some bats, puddings, and slimes, but nothing worth the attention of The Awesome Extraneus Bigas. Esoht even manages to gut a Rust Monster and pull his sword free before the blood corrodes the blade.

Continuing forward, you reach an old stone bridge, not unlike many others you’ve already crossed, other than it being coated in thick webbing that extends down the sides and up to the ceiling (60′ above). Colare smells a variety of living things in this cave, and sure enough, some giant bats swoop down from above. As Olien draws his sword, he cautions you: “These bats don’t dwell where they don’t think they’ll find food. They typically nest around the abandoned mining paths of Piram where smugglers get ensnared by the local fauna. If they’re here, it means there’s something else that’s far more dangerous nearby.” Sure enough, you hear dry clacking and wet whipping sounds echoing around the cave.

Roll initiative. Anyone who wishes to hide may perform a Stealth check.