Tl;dr: A group sought Rolannmiton, Son of Altist for answers on various topics. Rolannmiton, Son of Altist needed to be rescued from a evil monastery but had foreseen this eventuality.
Future Adventure Notes (not an exhaustive list):
•There is a powerful spellcaster roaming around southwest Port Mirandia, possibly related to time mages.
•In the area of a teleportation circle are the ruins of Drakhelm, hidden beneath the ground.
•There is a necromancer making abominations in the mountains southwest of Port Mirandia. Possibly same as previous spellcaster
•A visit to the citadel of the Rehope dwarves to search their library records is in order.
•A stone singer should visit the JubJub citadel of Grackistugh.
Session Title: In search of the Altist
Session GM: Geokahn
Session Date: 11 Feb 2022 @ 23:00 UTC
Session Risk: 7
Characters:
•”Leader and Scout” Bardy (Bard 15/Cleric 1) with Sisyphus the Pegasus (played by Tootired78)
•”Cartographer” Gau (Druid 13) (played by Konopa)
•Griters (Wizard 12) (played by Wade)
•Katla (Fighter 13) (played by Arden)
•Nog (Fighter 14) (played by Trulhammaren)
•”Chronicler” and “Trailblazer” Zoren (Cleric 11/Fighter 1) (played by Calmseeker)
Having returned from my latest adventurer, with much to think upon.
~Bardy
In a rarity, the group was formed at my request, with the intention to find Rolannmiton, Son of Altist, whom we had been told by Hortimus, the last stone seeker, to find. After speaking with Garden of Flowers (I will recollect that conversation after the log) it seemed the Hall of the Altist, southwest of Port Mirandia was the most likely spot to find him during winter. We gathered in Ruined Oak (to take advantage of the new Cabal), and took the portal over to Port Mirandia. (it was much colder in Ruined Oak, but still quite cold in Port Mirandia.)
We followed the road southwest, and while uneventful, it got colder and colder as we travelled. Near the end of the day Gau said he knew short cut and opened a portal in a tree that exited further south. The night was rather peaceful except during the last watch of the night. An enemy spellcaster brought a shower of meteors down upon us, but most of us were safely in Griters hut. Zoren caught sight of them before they teleported away. (Zoren used one of the stones from one of the meteorites to fashion an idol of Lathander.)
In the morning, Griters and Gau determined that the concentric ring left by the mage were consistent with the various time mages that have been popping up here and there around the island. It was still extremely cold when we set out across the frozen river. We noticed the frozen corpse of some… thing (the poor soul). It had died from exposure but before that it had been subjected to gruesome experimentation and torture. Someone had removed and reattached its arms backwards, and marks around the ankles and wrists suggest this was a prolonged experience, some of which involved necromancy
The corpse had left a trail of bloody footprints to the southwest, which we followed. They led to the scattered blocks of worked granite of a large broken building. Amongst these fallen stones was a an arcane circle burned into the ground. A teleportation circle but not a typical one according to Griters. A one way, short range portal, created within the last fifteen days. The origin must have been within six miles of the circle.
Writ in blood on a stone was the name Muldermor. (Using magic I saw a magic eye surveying the circle, which must have noticed us.) Seeing we were being watched we elected to not interact with the circle, simply note down where it was and move forward. We ventured west, undeterred by a blizzard, and continued west until we were met by a boy on a pony shouting “he’s here, he’s here, just like he said.” He then beckoned us to follow him, which we did.
He led us to a small campsite, that had two tents and two other people there, a man and a girl. We introduced ourselves and the man did as well, saying his name was Darrek. (Darrek had a picture of the person they had been expecting which I must admit seemed to resemble me.) He said it was drawn by Rolannmiton who had told Darrek that I and others would be coming, and that if he was missing (which he was) that we would need to rescue him.
We learned that Rolannmiton had left to investigate a great disturbance in the shrine of the Altist and went to investigate and was overdue. That the hills of the area were dotted with small tombs, some containing relics of the Altist empire, hidden, not having seen the light of day for ages. Sometimes evil springs up and takes root, and needs to ferreted out before it can propagate. (Also that the childrens’ names were Torbin and Anissa and just the four of them live here.)
We needed to sleep and make preparations before going onward. In the morning Darrek led us to a cave entrance, saying at one time it had once been a great monastery, built into the cavern itself. We went through the cave and found a large cavern with smaller buildings (or maybe rooms.) The area radiated illusion, necromancy, enchantment and abjuration magics, but was utterly bare and lifeless, (no dust even.)
Along the walls was artwork, that has a sense of both La’pongo and La’pendi styles, but distinct from them. Griters found some writing, that this place was a great Altist monastery called the Temple of the Four Elements. As we were exploring, Nog moved over a symbol on the floor which caused a wave of power to pass through the area. The illusion magic disappeared and massive piles of bones appeared.
We were attacked by massive skeleton groups, spiders and some oozes that seemed to be able to cast any magic that had been cast in their presence while having immunity to some elemental damage. During all of this waves of evil energy radiated throughout the corridors, afflicting us with various effects (I found the weakness I was afflicted with particularly troubling, especially after poor Sisyphus was hurt enough to be sent back to the celestial plane he came from, I can barely carry my own food and water these days.)
Even after all the active hostile creature had be slain, the evil energy suffusing the corridors continued to slowly drain our resistance. We were looking around for a way to end this, sensing a switch of some kind would need to be activated, (possibly the enchanted coffin) but Zoren reached out with a plea to Lathander for help, using the stone idol as a focus, asking his god to end this evil. (I must admit, while I was shocked this worked, Zoren was more shocked than anyone else.)
By the altar, a portal opened and a gleaming image of Lathander appeared. Lathander then touched his hammer to symbol Nog had stepped on, releasing another (much nicer) wave of power as the evil area stilled. The remains of the creatures disappeared in this moment. Only the coffin remained, aside from the art and writings on the wall.
The coffin was sealed with magic, which Griters dispelled. Inside the coffin was a bearded man, who was happy to be released. We assumed this was Rolannmiton, (which it was.) He spoke of coming to this place sensing evil, but getting overwhelmed, and trying to find refuge in the coffin, but getting trapped inside. We returned back to the campsite.
Rolannmiton had had a vision of our group coming to help, which was when he made the drawing. We then took this oppurtunity to ask Rolannmiton, Son of Altist many questions of varying topics.
•About Hortimus, stone singing and the Burning Elders: He talked about meeting Hortimus as a much younger man, and recounted a similar tale to what we had heard from Hortimus. He spoke thusly,
“Dwarven Magic, that was passed down through the generation to those that had the ability to coax the very spirit of the stones of which the dwarves so coveted.
They were a loyal group to both their Kings and Kingdom. A shining light of joy and hope. Yet their radiance was too bright for those that lurked in the darkness. Greed has often been said to be the weakness of the dwarves.
The burning elders, refers to a group and an ideal. Those dwarves which coveted the most, power, wealth, prestige, banded together in shadows, hidden behind closed doors and veiled in the darkest secrecy. They made pact with power beyond them that twisted not just their minds but their very souls. Dark machinations are being played out in the depths of those dwarven halls.”
Dwarves are long lived compared to some, yet the powers that corrupted them has waited eons. Slowly the path of decay began as the burning elders began their trek. Blinded by their gluttony and greed the elders walked blindly into the abyssal maw of the entity of whom I do not know the name.“
•Specifically regarding the Burning elders:
“I believe any further answer are guarded deep in the darkness of intrigue of Grackistugh. There you would have to enter the madness and deceit known only as the Belbeast. This was the last piece of information that I was able to gleam. My understanding is that a place or location. Most of the dwarves would be unaware of its meaning, yet there are those that ply in the deepest parts of the city’s cesses that would know but beware as their prices may be born of desperation and betrayal.“
•When I showed him the stone singing ability I had he spoke about me having been touched, and that the ability would serve me well. He had thought such a gift lost to the world, and had almost escaped his mind that there are secrets locked away that only such a gift could unseal. That I should go to Grackistugh, trusting few but seeking out those that would assist, that would lead the way. To conceal the stone singing gift, as the Burning Elders pawns are many, willfully being manipulated to serve them.
•About the Ruins of Masser: (referred to in a note in the archives,) (adding that the river of Mit’thek was crossed before going to the desert,)
“The ruins of Masser you say, that is a place death.
The desert of flies is not the only desert that this island contains. Far to the south past the river of Mit’thek there is a land of pain and sorrow. The people there conspire against the people of the Great Khendra Empire, yet I believe that at one time they were more kindred. This is where the location lies.”
“What little I know about the ruins of Masser is that it is a prison much like the other that are found on the island. Imprisoned with is a creature of immense power for destruction. Many were tempted by the stories of the wealth and items amassed inside its chambers, as well as all that was lost in the attempts to claim them. The ruins are said to bear a glyph that you may use to identify the location.“
•About Grondorstone: he was an enchanter, only heard stories through the generations, believed to be entombed in Moritorm. He had not heard the name Grey Seer before, but suggested we should check the library of the Rehope dwarves for more information, sure that some would reside there. For us to speak to one known as Madellan, a librarian there. (He later said we might also look for mentions of an ironstriker named Gifontay, who heard Phimot the Wise’s last words at the Rehope library. Phimot‘s split halves are also at Moritorm, and he had heard of the Blood King and of previous attempts to wake Nuegebauer.
•About the Moldorians, if they are the Red Elk tribe or another. They were a different tribe, they warred against each other, some advanced and some fell. The had castles, but many were destroyed, just like the Altist lands, if you travel enough you will see the signs of ruined stone structures, particularly to the east. (Apparently the Red Elk were the founders of the first settlement at White Moon Cove.)
•About the yuan-ti, and if he knows of the current lizardman pogrom: He was aware. He declares the yuan-ti a souless bunch, capable of no good. They caused the southern migration, splitting the La’pongo into the La’pendi and the Altist.
•About the various tabaxi Garden monks: He knew of four but had never met Garden of Sands. He also tolds us that Garden of Flowers task involves protecting a golden door, behind which is what Garden of Flowers values above all else. The gold door will curse any not of tabaxi lineage, and something powerful is down there. Each Garden is bound to their own thing.
•About his title “Son of Altist”: He said it meant he could trace his lineage directly to Altist, founder of the Altist empire, then spoke about how one of such lineage (not him, he would not tell us who to protect them) is chosen to rise with the flame of the Altist and the Blue Light and lead the people back to the glory of eld. (The flame is metaphorical, their name for the force of spirit required to throw off the shackles of yuan-ti, live life to the fullest and keep kindness in the heart. Many mistake it for a physical object.)
•About the Krailons, he took out an ancient map and showed pointed to a spot on the southside of the mountain range, saying they existed there. (southeast of where we were camped, across the mountains.) Talked about Drakhelm, a ruin beneath the area with the teleportation circle, still maybe secrets held in its vaults, but nothing on the surface. Troshelm is still standing, the yuan-ti had captured then used it as a raiding base, abandoning it later.
•About the Order of the Magnitude, (chronomancers) : He says they are not all the same, some a beneficial, others harmful. Thought they might be associated with The Leonid.
•About The Leonid: He was not sure what it was or is, aside from fabled. He thought it is some how embroiled with the powers that govern the island.
•About a clockwork demiplane: He had not heard of it or its creator, but said these lands hold strange sights and powerful creatures. There are strange prisons within the island, and strange gateways to them can appear.
Griters mentioned the attack on our camp the night before last, and the one directional teleportation circle we found. Rolannmiton found this alarming. He mentioned a powerful necromancer named Muldermor living in the mountains to the south that does terrible experiments, having come across some of the abominations before. He wonders if Muldermor is also trying to find Nuegebauer, and states his intention to go to Moritorm to check out things there concerned a older wizard has taken a new title.
We rest to recover from the evil of the temple. In the morning, Zoren spent some times reflecting upon his plea to Lathander working and believes he had assistance from a woman, (his description matches that of the Altist herself.) We then used Gau’s trees and a teleport spell to get back to Port Mirandia safely.
I will take a moment to recount a conversation I had with Garden of Flowers for posterity. He came to find me at my request and we spoke about various subjects, including Hortimus, stone singing and the Burning Elders and the location of Rolannmiton. The biggest reason I had for contacting him was to affirm my thought that all the tabaxi Gardens were atoning for something, as I had learned vividly from Garden of Stone.
Garden of Flowers did confirm this, while not specifying. It was implied by both Garden of Flowers and Garden of Stone that the degree of atonement was less for Garden of Flowers. Also talked about was while many were not, there were four chosen, to be Gardens, Garden of Flowers, Garden of Thorns, Garden of Stone, and unmet by anyone from AFK, Garden of Sands, who resides somewhere in the desert. Each Garden has their own mission. Garden of Flowers vowed that his mission will cause no harm to AFK.