Ragnorra Session 43

Start: 7 pm, Sunday, Flamerule (July) 25, 1396

The party further examined the compound, and found several details it had in common with previous shrines they have disrupted.

After careful examination, Cassius dispelled the portal and dismantled the torture devices.

On the third floor, they removed the curse from the barrels, apparatus, and the tub, collecting the starmetal contents within. Cassius proceeded to dismantle the still.

The four of them descended to the second floor and examined the contents of the room. They decided to first investigate the Phaerrim. They found it receptive to movement, but were unable to communicate with it for a time, due to the walls of force.

They moved on to the room containing the Tanarruk infants and cult tank apparatus.

They remove the starmetal, which was coated with a layer of wax from the tanks and dispatch the Tanarruk of various ages inside. The party drained and dismantled the tanks.

Leaving the rest of floor two for later, the party descended to the basement. There, they met two gnolls, two Nar men and several female orcs held captive. All prisoners appeared to be malnourished except one of the gnolls, who they would learn is named Jargaal. Ronja astutely observes some adherents of the shadow weave do not need to eat or sleep, and suspects the gnoll of having far more secrets than he lets on.

The party speaks to the Nar men and learn their names are Joaquin and Kemal. They find them to be quite amicable, although Joaquin seems shady at several passes.

Fortunately for the party, Kemal speaks orcish and translates for Ronja. Ronja instructs the orc women to tend to the Tanarruk infants, and raise them in their tribe. They depart once bidden.

After some investigation, the party release the second gnoll named Grisk, and uncover the fact Jargaal is one of the so-called 'prophets' of Ragnorra. After a bit of light questioning, they knock him unconscious and take him prisoner.

Cassius questioned Joaquin at length and found out Joaquin and Kemal journeyed a long distance from Peltarch to the outskirts of Zhentil keep, bringing a cargo of arms, where they were ambushed by orcs, taken captive, and brought here. They intended to invest their savings in these arms, and reinvest the proceeds from the sale into mercenary companies. These ventures would be profitable, Joaquin thought, because it is rumored the Zhentarim are preparing for a 'war' - although he did not seem to know against what. Cassius passed along the suggestion he could employ the Uthgardt tribesmen, and after dodging and twisting the terms several times, Joaquin conceded. He agreed to pay them ten gold each and teach them the ways of coin. Kemal offered to teach them some of the basics of the common tongue, with no recompense.

The party returns to the second floor, and Cassius passes beneath the floor, entering the room with the orb and the restrained Phaerrim. The Phaerrim identified itself as 'Nalbis'. He converses further with it, and it reveals it has been brought here deliberately, by a 'purple man with red hair'. This seemed to correspond with a form Vane may be taking presently. It further revealed the orb nearby is a 'fragment of the sharnwall', and repels magic. The Phaerrim agreed to have Cassius put it out of its misery. Cassius takes the orb, which hums ominously whenever it is touched. Through mostly context, the party determines it may violently expel glass shards if struck.

Vix scavenges the Phaerrim for parts, and finds two fertile eggs from its ovipositor. They appear healthy.

The party exits the stronghold, and speaks to a worg named Norbert.

Cassius and Vix negotiate for two worg pups. Vix has named them Uno and Cilla. Furthermore, they have the worg to direct the orcs to load up their carts with valuables from inside the fortress.

Before Joaquin, Kemal, and the tribesmen depart, Jinx handed Njala an opal for her journey, for which she was very grateful.

The party carefully examined the lowly humming orb and determined a mage's disjunction would temporarily suppress its antimagic properties, although it might destroy it as well, complicating the prospect of transporting the object.


Demiplane ETA in hours: 157
Omen must feed in 68 hours, Montgomery must feed in 66 hours.
XP: 450

End: 11 pm, Sunday, Flamerule (July) 25, 1396