Ragnorra Session 51

Start: 10 pm, Tuesday, Eleasis 2, 1396

With Montgomery's assistance, the party utilized the dominated guards to set up a trap for Olix Kri. They decided to use the orb as an extra measure for safety. Furthermore, Jinx cast dancing lights to fully illuminate the room before he entered.

With the help of Jinx and the rod of quicken, Vix managed to temporarily paralyze Olix Kri when he entered the study, led in by his dominated bodyguards.

Once the paralysis wore off, the party began to question Olix Kri. He did not resist, really at all, and allowed himself to be unmasked by the orb with no protest, as if he was expecting this, sooner or later.

Ronja's familiar, Raphaël, quickly determined he is evil, as soon as he entered the room.

During the questioning, the party learned many things, many of which Olix Kri volunteered freely. Partly of admission, and partly due to deductive reasoning and observation, the party learned he is native to Abeir. Shortly after Ragnorra descended onto Abeir, Olix Kri attempted to disrupt her regaining her strength, and failed. He stated this time he intended to be better prepared. His story suggested he was prepared on Abeir, suggesting he knew enough to know where and when she would fall, but for whatever reason was unsuccessful in his plan.

He fell to Ragnorra, and was infected. During the initial resistance, he was slain by Keepers of the Cerulean Sign. His body was recovered and purified in a ritual on Toril. Resurrected, and now immune to Ragnorra's influence, he vowed revenge. Some time has passed since then, and Abeir has since become engulfed fully by Ragnorra. This story heavily implied a multi-world network of Keepers of the Cerulean Sign. It also hinted at their probable knowledge of Ragnorra, and inability to thwart her entirely.

Olix Kri went on to specify how he and his offspring are immune to Ragnorra's influence due to the circumstances of his resurrection. Bitterly insulted and vengeful at his defeat, he vowed vengeance and immediately took action. Olix Kri infiltrated the cult's early seeds in Toril. Likely, his actions have assisted the cult in many ways, and it is doubtless he committed atrocities of his own in this process. Early on, many years ago, it is likely his actions caused the birth of Vix, and emboldened Vaaren-Uul.

Vix, and others, unknown to the cult, would be immune to Ragnorra's influence, and would be unsuitable subjects to be chosen. Olix Kri played into this, seeding as many children as he could with his bloodline and immunity. He took a few as his proteges, and began to create a shadowy brood of his own determined to thwart the cult's efforts. He often would not take direct action himself, due to his very long term plans. He sought to preserve his long term goals, and when he took action, he intended it to be an absolute, unrecoverable goal to the cult. Whether or not his methods are correct are not yet proven, and will not be known until the hour is late. He heartlessly described being willing to slay his own children if they do not follow him in the 11th hour.

Olix Kri seemed to think, if one of his offspring were selected as chosen as Ragnorra's avatar, they would be two conflicting minds in one body. It seems unlikely he could know this with absolute certainty - and arguably worse he would subject one of his children to this fate. Regardless, as one of his brood, Vix is immune to the corruption. Unsurprisingly with the vast amount of offspring Olix Kri has, he did not know the exact identity of Vix's mother. He suspects her identity may be found in Vaaren-Uul's study, in Myth Drannor, and if she lives, she is likely in the same complex. He was quite casual about the revelation, as if it had happened so many times before, the novelty was wholly lost on him. He did, however, tell Vix she is 'sensible and capable'.

Olix Kri admitted to slaying Azoun Obarskyr IV, the crown king of Cormyr, himself. He remarked one of his offspring is impersonating the king, as of very recently. He specified this is known to the Zhentarim, but not the cult, and he is maintaining the façade Manshoon is pulling the strings, and has gained control over Cormyr, all through him, of course. This is likely true, in part. There is no cost too great for Olix Kri to destroy Ragnorra. He would lay waste to kingdoms, and lay down any life, even his own, to accomplish his goal. This entire coup to him is for the sole purpose of readying Cormyr for Ragnorra to land in the Farsea Swamp, and to delay her advance, presumably to buy him and whomever assists him time. Olix Kri invited the party to assist him in the 11th hour, after Ragnorra has dropped, but before she has regained her strength, to do battle with him inside the worldskin, to vanquish her once and for all. He seemed sure Ragnorra would arrive in one state or another, regardless of what the cult does. They simply facilitate ideal conditions for the world to be consumed, and to better safeguard their goddess.

When questioned on the basement, he invited the party to storm it as adventurers would - but to make their attempt count. He seemed unconcerned for all except revealing his identity. Olix Kri doesn't seem to care if the Myth Drannor base is attacked or not. He appears completely calm, as if he has plans for either outcome. He subtly encouraged the party to storm it, but again, to make their attempt count. He went on to detail that the Darstan Estate is perhaps the best entrance for a later date, since it would be suspicious for the party to come back to the Rowanmantle Estate. He agreed to pay the bounty for his wife, for the alibi, and because he seemed to genuinely want her back.

He vowed to protect Hisbelda if she is returned to him, and to reunite her with Sonya in Zhentil keep. His plan, as with many of his others is for the time being to publicly replace her with one of his agents. Evidently, Hisbelda knows of her daughter's identity as a changeling. It is unclear how she rationalizes this, as she does not seem to know Olix Kri as anything else other than Kortyl Rowanmantle. Perhaps she thinks her child is unusually gifted, or cursed. Perhaps she is right on both counts.

On the topic of his captives, he claimed Trollkiller is compromised, and was willing to strike a deal with the Darstans. According to Olix Kri, he has aspirations of lordship. Olix Kri would not allow this to happen, so he set an ambush. He captured Trollkiller, and killed or dispersed many of his rangers, under the guise of a rendezvous with an agent of house Darstan. He is keeping Isadora, Hisbelda's maid safe for the time being, because 'she is precious to her'. Regardless of the many setbacks and shame house Darstan has faced, Olix Kri still considers Geraldine Darstan to be a threat. Perhaps even especially now, considering she has very little left to lose.

On the subject of scrying, he declared magical correspondence as 'suitable', and agreed to Ronja's plan of him wearing a red scarf if he needs to speak with the party. Furthermore, he stated that the cult may scry on some cult-related artifacts. So far, to his knowledge, Vix has been the 'easiest subject to scry upon', and the cult is not yet widely aware of Jinx. Furthermore, he specified 'most of the scrying is done at Myth Drannor'.

Olix Kri's grasp is not all encompassing, but he described a 'few' agents in the Myth Drannor base, and 'one' in the sunset mountains base. He did not seem to know a good identifier if the party found his agents. He described a similar conceptual layout to the sunset mountains shrine as the first shrine. On the guardians of the shrine, he knew of blood golems disguised as statues and undead from a vanquished world known as spawn of kyuss.

On Vane, he knew little concrete information, other than he considers himself a messianc figure, and has successfully transformed several worlds, including Abeir. If Vane could be surprised, Olix Kri thinks he may be trapped like a devil or a demon.

Olix Kri spoke of a cult double agent, infiltrating the Thayans to subtly disrupt them and collect information and impersonating the Waterdeep noblewoman Lara Urmbursk.

He made a veiled threat if his identity is compromised, he will try to kill the party, and anyone they tell. He did not go into great detail to what details he would think would qualify. He gave temporary permission to keep his blade. He spoke a little on the phasms, and said they were made for him and claims they learn quickly. He keeps an eye on his mercenaries, and they are simple mercenaries. When they leave the estate, they are followed.

The form of Lord Rowanmantle he takes does not look like a man in his fifties. This may be a simple error, or perhaps a bit of vanity on his part.

Hisbelda was returned to Olix Kri, and his identity was not given up. He maintained the façade of being overjoyed, and paid the party the ransom for both parties, because he is so overjoyed. Hisbelda went with him, and thanked the party.

After leaving the estate, Montgomery dismissed the domination. The party then returned to the Dragon's Jaws.

Lilly and Zira were briefed on vague details, being told 'everything worked out. Hisbelda was returned, and everything went better than expected.

The party rested, and Montgomery fed in the night. A sample of Hisbelda Rowanmantle's hair was collected from her bed.

The party scryed on Gabriel Cathay. He was in a tunnel system, underfed and lost, with two other vampires. On being questioned on why he was there, he said 'Men, paladins, bearing blue signs drove them off'. Gabriel told Monty to 'rejoin us, brother, and you will be rewarded, and fed every day'. He seemed desperate. Monty promised to try his best to find him. The party realized he is somewhere in the lake of shadows region of Cormyr's Upperdark.

Demiplane is ready.
Omen must feed urgently, Monty must feed in 68 hours.
XP: 600

End: 9 am, Wednesday, Eleasis 3, 1396