Faith and Courage (2COT14)

Part of Saga: The Coming of Twilight
- Part of Season 2: A Time For Discovery (2COT)
  - Part of Episode 4: The Riddle of the Covenant (2COT1)

Session took place on 10/16/2010.

Story

Session begins on 5 Ches 1381.

Act 1

The orphanage is attacked by howling Telthor spirits and a circle of black witches (Durthan), one of whom personally attacks the party as Talrendis tries to undo her storm. Wyclava, as she is known, is vanquished, and captured by the party.

Act 2

As the children and courtesans weather the storm in the underground bunker, Keket, Kara, and Ani delve into Wyclava's mind using the Imaskari resurrection chambers.

Therein, they learn several things:

That the Durthan lair in Citadel Rashemar, or at least once did
That, through a ritual to some infernal being, their leader gained terrible power
That Valik was the original creator of the Mark of the Unicorn, being the orichalcum medallion once owned by Vasilisa Radov (apparently a gift from her husband), and now owned by Ani
That the witches cruelly punished the Vremyonni for the slightest of transgressions, and Valik rebelled against them
That the Durthan were among those who did so, and may have been deliberately manipulating him
That the Durthan laired, among other places, in a remote northern village, filled with terrified citizens
That the Durthan had one or more agents within the Covenant
That said agents, or others, were working on gaining Valik's trust for at least 8 months prior to his eventual betrayal
That the mark of the Beast from which the Durthan gain their power may possibly be related to Eltab

The dream ends as Wyclava invokes the protection of her dark master, causing the chamber in which she slumbers to melt into slag, nearly destroying everything and everyone else in the room.

Act 3

Seeking safety for her children and courtesans, Keket beseeches Zahl for protection in Citadel Thay. She concedes. The children enjoy royal accomodations in the newly completed East Wing of the palace. Zahl shows her softer side as she entertains the children with feasts and magnificent playrooms.

Meanwhile, the party researches the threat they face. They cannot determine anything conclusive about the witches' power source, but Eltab is the likely culprit, or, seeing as how he is definitely dead, some scion of his.

In a casting room in the disused mansion of the Tharchioness, Ani and Zahl invoke the phylactery made of Wyclava's blood, in order to summon her spirit for questioning. They learn the following:

That the Durthan will cause the Iron Lord to invade Thay, but that's just a diversion
That they continue to use Citadel Rashemar as a base
That Zahl's command of the Great Seal has little to no effect on them

The mask somehow invokes the other witches, who nearly detonate Ani and Zahl, along with the entire structure.

Upon returning to the palace, Zahl learns that Rashemen has invaded.

In the first 12 hours of the war, the city of Surthay is utterly destroyed.

Rewards

Battle on the Orphanage

For defeating the Durthan Wyclava and her Telthor guardians:

4,400 xp each. (new total: 126,400 xp)
Cloak of Blinking: This stylish black cloak is made of satin, yet quite comfortable even in a wintry storm. Each time the wearer of this cloak is attacked, she may teleport anywhere within short range as an immediate action. This has a 100% chance to succeed, -25% for each time it is successfully used in a given encounter.
Greater Ring of Counterspells: As the standard Jewelcrafting item.
Slippers of Spider Climbing: As the standard Leatherworking item.
Orb of Storms: As the standard SRD item.
17 gp, 44 sp, 38 cp
2x Crimson Spinel
2x Spinel