Ragnorra Session 52

Start: 9 am, Wednesday, Eleasis 3, 1396

The party sets out from Suzail enroute to Skull Crag.

Before they leave, Jinx purchases scrolls, and Vix visits the butcher. Omen loaded up with 120 pounds of meat, suitable for 3 feedings. The meat is preserved with gentle repose.

On the way, they are stopped by a war wizard patrolling the roads of interior Cormyr. He reports to the party the roads are to be closed shortly, and the crown is mustering troops urgently for some undisclosed purpose. They are questioned on their purpose, and say it is for trade. They are briefed vaguely on the state of the roads and passes to the west. Again, they are reminded of the trolls in the area to the west, and horrors lurking in the swamps.

The party asked about Lloyd, and they were told he went to Suzail. Perhaps he was true to his word after all.

Additionally, they glean some new information about Cormyr's relatively lawless west. Namely, they discover Darkhold is a former Zhentarim stronghold. It is, however, under the control of a Cyricist named Dhamir Ercals, and the clergy of Cyric. To the north of the shrine lies Ladydove, a ruined town laid to waste by a local black dragon and stripped clean by the bandits. Closer to Cormyr but still somewhat stranded in the swamp is the ducal estate of Aris, which is the ancestral home of House Aris. Around the estate a fortress-town has crept up, inhabited by honest folk and refugees from Ladydove and no doubt elsewhere in this tumultuous time. It is likely Aris would be a friendly place to visit if help was needed so far outside of civilization. Additionally, he mentioned there are rumors of monsters 'roaming the roads' in Cormanthor.

The war wizard mentioned emergency travel passes can be acquired via the crown, or perhaps purchased from governors of larger towns or cities nearby.

The party bid the helpful war wizard farewell and continued on their way.

During their journey, they passed by regular patrols of war wizards and small detachments of purple dragon knights. Few patrols of local conventional guards were spotted, as were few local passerbys or peasants on foot.

Moving on to Waymoot, they stopped for the night. The party noticed a large amount of conscripted troops in the town center, clad in helmets and wielding pikes. Additionally, they noticed the statue of Dorn had a couple of last minute additions, including a ship on his belt buckle, and him leaning on an anchor. The party rested until 4 am, and then continued on their way. Vix trained her dogs during the downtime.

Continuing down the road to Minroe, the party noticed the construction crew was still working on repair, but had made some ground. Moving on to Minroe, they noted the town was almost entirely depopulated of regular residents, but had a lively population of road workers and guards. It would seem Minroe is being fortified for some planned invasion, or perhaps a war. Around the periphery of Minroe, inside the makeshift palisade, a proper permanent stone wall is being constructed by the crew. The party spoke to a workman, who revealed the entire crew was being paid double - six silver a day. That certainly explains the great amount of ragtag workers in this crew. Likely many migrants from the surrounding areas have flocked at the promise of a good steady wage.

Moving on, the party continued on to the pass between Minroe and Skull Crag. On the way, they stopped at the shrine. They found it thoroughly abandoned, and much the same as they left it, aside from minor scavenging of bedrolls, wood, and furniture.

They continued on to Skull Crag.

Just outside of the fortification, they spotted an ancient shrine of Kelemvor. It was observed whomever sculpted the statue of Kelemvor Lyonsbane likely had the man who would become a god himself as a reference personally, dating the structure. The statue itself is of Kelemvor Lyonsbane, the mortal. He is holding out an outstretched hand, as if to clasp yours. In his other hand, he is holding a scale, as if to judge your deeds.

Skull Crag appeared to be in dire straits. Among the men inside the fortification were the Tun Brothers and members of the Proskur Jaffrati crime family, brazenly wearing the colors of the house on their coats.

After a few questions, the party was escorted to the 'man in charge', Antione Jaffrati. He seemed embarrassed he is not truly calling the shots, but made up for it with needless eloquence and bluster. As it is the case with many wealthy and influential families who do not bear titles of nobility, they generally try to act more noble to give the impression of importance. Antione Jaffrati is practically a case study of this phenomena.

He candidly told of the troubles at Skull Crag. He let slip he is not truly there voluntarily, and has been commanded to do so by his family. He spoke of the regular sieges by infected trolls, and how he has clergy of Kelemvor imprisoned in the church to heal and decurse his men. He spoke of it as a unfortunate necessity. If the party solved the 'troll problem' for him, he promised on his honor five thousand gold in compensation, and the release of the priests of Kelemvor. 'His honor' seemed to be quite a genuine promise from Antione. He is trying really hard to be the nobleman he is factually not. The party agreed to his terms.

Antione Jafratti did not detect as good or evil. This places his alignment as either Lawful Neutral, True Neutral, or Chaotic Neutral.

Antione dispatched his right hand man, named Roland to deal with the party. Cassius accompanied Roland to the infirmary to heal Antione Jaffrati's troops, along with the Tun Brothers wounded in the infirmary. Since the previous encounter with the party, Roland has lost an eye. He initially reacted with anger when Cassius mentioned he was from the east, but they cleared up the confusion. Roland described how the last time he dealt with an easterner, he was betrayed, hinting at the situation with Kal so long ago. It would seem Roland has not forgot. To Cassius's estimation sparring with him, Roland appears to be a competent and experienced fighter, but not as trained as he is. The men were entertained by Cassius's method of healing.

Roland spoke of another group of adventurers, led by a paladin, ventured into the swamp 48 hours earlier, and did not return. They were after the same reward the party is. Additionally, Roland mentioned the Jaffratis are not really nobles. They are just rich and fancy themselves nobility.

Roland's alignment detected as evil.

The party regrouped and rested for a few hours at the Rusty Nail, the only inn in Skull Crag. They purchased 3 rooms for 1 night at the princely sum of 3 silver and were served bread and water.

The party waited for the trolls to attack and engaged with them. Vix tested her immunity to the curse and their spores, and was confirmed to be immune to the curse. This confirms her lineage as one of the brood of Olix Kri, and confirms her immunity to Ragnorra's influence. Also, this lends credibility to Olix Kri's story.

The party concluded combat, defeating the trolls handily.

Demiplane is ready.
Omen must feed in 37 hours. Provisions provide 2 more feedings for Omen. Monty must feed in 30 hours.
XP: 1375

End: Midnight, Friday, Eleasis 5, 1396