Four Fates Under the Southern Sun PF, Session 6

Start: Noon, Thursday, Midsummer 10, 401 GA

The party emerged from the crypt beneath the Founder's Runestone.

There, they camped, and found Tzara. She and the Spider Queen parted ways, and the Amulet of Arachnidia was passed to Tzara.

They moved on overland to return to the Viszudar.

Arriving, they immediately sought audience with Kaliero, who simply hosted them in his office. There, Kaliero passed on several new nuggets of knowledge he had uncovered from the Chronicle of Galthan. Namely, the following:

- A lost chapter of the chronicle of Galthan, the Meditations of Balvir, is being held in a fortress in the giant's cradle north of Orashire. This lost chapter was penned by Balvir, the first Brave, and is considered to be the lost final chapter to the Chronicle. Any details about the climax of the encounter the Archons are supposed to have with the powers of the Beyond may be contained here.

- Kaliero pieced together, through the text and through his own sorcery, the approximate locations, names, and previous owners of the other three relics. They are as follows.

- The Circlet of Living Ice, formerly possessed of Ílíshlu, a hero of the Fortisskari elves, may be found somewhere within the forbbiden southlands, possibly in Fortisskar itself. Kaliero went on to specify the return of the Circlet of Living Ice to her people is the primary reason Fortisskar and the Viszudar have never engaged in open warfare. The elves have a long memory for good or ill, and make good on that gesture of good will. However, the Archons are tasked with collecting this selfsame artifact.

- The Scepter of Mortwin, formerly possessed of Mortwin the Illusionist, an Adréssian master trickster, is contained somewhere within the Lost Hills. Kaliero mentioned the entrance to Mortwin's vault is shrouded in mystery, and opens like a mirage unpredictably.

- The Talon of the Godsworn, formerly owned by Xola master swordsman, Cyriak Garontor, is contained within a fortress in Ain Shan, in the northern Giant's Cradle mountain range. It, and the Meditations of Balvir, are here. The fortress is guarded by harpies who have dedicated themselves to Tarmyra, a lady of the Beyond.

- Kaliero deigned to give the Archons the vocations of 'diplomat', to explain their irregularity. He specified their activity must not be shared with the public. Kaliero provided assistance with goods, and hinted he had to spirit them out of the treasury. He said he cannot help like this again for some time.

- The party realized Kaliero had been scrying on them, and he was not specifically scrying on Tzara.

The party bought and sold in the marketplaces of the Viszudar, and made the decision to visit the lost hills first.

They traveled overland, and were immediately greeted by stone megaliths, which they deciphered.

1 - This stone depicts a voyage from a distant land and a hero-queen. The stone reads: Entombed in these halls are those who gave their lives for Adréssia.
2 - This stone depicts a sheathed sword, a penitent goat producing a sunburst. The stone reads: Guardians from the beyond guard those who gave everything for our home.
3 - This stone depicts a man, perhaps a trickster-god, high above out of reach in a window. The stone reads: Mortwin the Sage imbued this vault with his protection after our people were delivered from disaster. His eyes linger in these halls even yet.
4 - This stone depicts a bright sunburst above waves of flame. The stone reads: The Coruscating Sceptre of Mortwin is entombed within this vault, with its master. His successor will brave its halls to reunite with his lost relic.

They simply entered the lost hills crypt and deftly navigated through its halls.

Navigating through the traps, they found an illusory note visible only to Tzara and Vasileios.

"Greetings, me! You're probably feeling pretty proud of yourself so far. You have created an impressive dungeon full of traps and pitfalls to keep the uglies out, and it's worked, for a very long time. Feel the same pride I do, me. You're probably here for the sceptre. Be very, very careful not to let the beast out of the right chamber in this room. Trust in your friend to find the way through. Best of luck. Toodles."

Moving on, they found a statue of Mortwin. He is a two headed dragonborn.

Taking a right, they found another note.

"Be wary of the shadows. I left a tool by the sarcophagi, if you need a bit of help. -I- wouldn't get too close. The golems may have made a mess of the place. I'll have to be a bit more careful next time, and imbue them with intelligence. In any case, as I am sure you remember, you don't need to vanquish all of the guardians, you only need to reach the portal. Toodles again! Ciao!"

- This session, it was established each relic of the Archons are minor artifacts.

XP: 337
End: 4 pm, Friday, Midsummer 18, 401