Ulgrotha: Sengir's Castle

Party: Sorval / Taurio / Vultha / Iskren / Zantaroth

Xivaskir 29

After a fitful night full of visitations by allies, the group (minus Sorval, who has been sent out by Serra on a mission of his own, discovering a group of cyclopean lizards encroaching on a portal, a fight with a cambion and a limited time of return leading to a strategical retreat) gathers again, with various of the members of the party passing on the information they got. They proceed to figure out their next goal should be gaining more allies and forces, with Ravnica and Serra's Realm as main points.

Big Z speaks about Elder Dragons for a bit, as he has been marked by one (Vae Victis Asmadi), implying a potential future quest, while Vultha wants to seek out Freyalise. Iskren had little activity to mention.

Grandmother Sengir appears with foods and a general scary vibe. She shows the group to the Baron's throne room before leaving them. The Baron himself speaks with the group and Iskren specifically, striking a bargain for the return of his coin (in exchange for an heir, a corpse, aid and support). He provides some added intel, noting Dihada as a main problem, Freyalise as a powerful ally. 

As Iskren negotiates the terms in person, Taurio and Vultha look at a pair of feathers and seek how they can make items from them. After the deed is done and the Baron ascends to his planeswalkerhood, unleashing a wave of dark energy from the coin before returning it to Iskren.

The energy, as Taurio/Vultha/Zantaroth move towards the library, seems to enhance the castle, making it more of a macabre place, with semblances of human remains brought to the fore rather than blending in. 

The library itself is populated with hooded figures, servant spirits, which allow the party access to books upon demand. Information on the Elder Dragons seems rare, but Zantaroth is brought to some volumes (which mention Vae Victis having been broken down into shards), while Taurio studies mass battles and Vultha passes his book to a servant and retrieves is again, learning more of Lorwyn. 

Eventually Iskren rejoins the group, finding Zantaroth first and looking into the Elder Dragon War with him. Once Vultha joins up, a small spark of inspiration strikes the group, and he links the stories in the book to a small dragon they found in the Shademurk. At that time, Sorval rejoins the group. 

The discussion goes on towards the being known as Har-to Pro'nouns, with Serra and others being named as potential allies. While listening to Vultha, the group meets a trio of elves, two of them horned, the main conversation centers upon Oona, the violet queen, who might be an ally if the party gets to Lorwyn. They seek the book Vultha carries, but the party is unwilling to relinquish it, so both sides decide to remain neutral and a token is given by Elda Goldenmanes (captain of the guard) to Iskren to allow the party access to the Gilt-leaf Courts. 

In the end, the party decides the priority should be Serra's Realm.

The group eventually leaves the castle and retrieves the corpse of Ishan, travel towards the Great Forest and Autumn Willow. They rest at a bridge, ignoring the dangers the night may bring, Zantaroth meeting up with Sandruu and by the morning, the party seems to be aiming to pass the corpse on to Autumn Willow and maybe tracking down a shard of Vae Victis that was forged into a sword...

 

Ulgrotha: Into the Dark Barony

 Another two-for-one~ 

Party: Sorval / Iskren / Taurio / Zantaroth / Vultha

Xivaskir 27

The party decides not to arrive at the Baron's abode empty-handed and follow tracks to a manticore lair.

They, however, discover the lair is also home to a large dragon, much bigger than the one they fought in the pass. After a heavy battle, they do emerge victorious and add a lot of treasure and coin to their hoard.

They agree to retire outside and rest up, Taurio attunes to a magical ring, the group reconsider their resting spot, head back in and spend the night in a protective circle of Feryja's making, replenishing their vitality for the upcoming trials and tribulations.

Xivaskir 28

Fully rested, moving and feeling good about their chances, more so after some bonding over Zantaroth's delicious foods, the party encounters a fleeing group of villagers, heading towards the Baron's castle, as Leshrac's raiders are testing the defenses of the Barony. Bringing down the attackers, the group sets out to follow the fleeing villagers, before encountering a familiar figure all dressed in black robes and wreathed in flames. The Walker of Night, his remaining Balor, a Fear Smith and some goons have come for them! 

Using their wits and acquired knowledge, the party manages to turn a balor into their ally, who promptly strikes out at the Fear Smith. The pair fights in the background while the group batters Leshrac's force.

As the Walker is forced to spend a lot of attention on the party, he lowers his defenses for a convenient intervention by Jared Carthalion. As the Shadow Mage strikes out for the Walker of Night, Leshrac flees. The other foes mopped up, the Balor agrees to assist them in future endeavors after answering some questions. A praying Sorval gets a communication from Jared, telling him to go about his business and declaring Ulgrotha safe... for now.  

They head forth, arriving at Castle Sengir after passing by the Rows of Punished. They are greeted by a group of servants, and led to the salon. Vultha remains behind for a bit before being warned that Grandmother might take an interest in travelers that stay behind. The salon is occupied by a female dwarven vampire who introduces herself rudely as Irene Sengir. A brief back and forth later, the Baron arrives and sends Irene off. He shows himself a gracious host and allows the party to take a rest and refresh. The Boros decide they want to check out the library while the others will seek audience with the Baron. 

Before parting ways, Iskren also tells Sorval they might have to do unusual things, but that Iskren will NOT cause the party harm through deeds or words.  

Koshun Pass: Two for the price of one

 Xivaskir 26

Party: Sorval / Zantaroth / Taurio / Iskren / Vultha

The group converses with a Balor and moves on after securing its alliance in their fight against Leshrac. 

They head deeper into the dungeon, fighting off a manifestation of (what they previously encountered as) Zantaroth's Wild Side, bound by a magical circle. 

They discover a shaft at the back of the room, so they follow it to the library. Vultha spies a goblin laying prone. Shoots it. Shoots it again. And again. Before Zantaroth discovers the goblin has died. A while ago. And there is an acidic smell in the air, implying poison. The group then investigates the room, where books are strewn on the floor, torn from the shelves. Learning a little of the history of the Castle of the Dawn, the Rise of the Barony (written by Xolkur Thruda) and the dwarven authors that used to write them. Also erotic dwarven fiction (about a fiery redhead named Serra, not related to the planeswalker) with pictures. And Vultha finds a book on 'the Violet Queen', a fey being that can grant wishes.

They then walk through the corridor adjacent to the library, split up a little and discover a shrine and a spider-guarded prisoner respectively. 

The spider sinks its fangs into Taurio, but Vultha takes it out before it can do anything else. Sorval calls upon the powers of Serra and removes the poison from the prisoner's system before Big Z calls him to the shrine. The remaining members of the party examine her and find her to be a non-combatant by her gear, judging her to be more of a scholar. The damage done by her captivity involves her missing two fingers and having bite-marks all over her body due to the spider. Being healed by Iskren, she comes to and explains she is a researcher interested in the dwarven culture. The name she gives is Feryja, from the Hidden School. 

The shrine, guarded by a strange being that attempts to strangle Sorval as he examines the altar. However, the radiant frost attack from Sorval is more than a match for the creature's body. The pair then cleans out the shrine with Z grabbing a bunch of 'magma shrooms', which he thinks will be delicious when roasted over lava.

Afterwards, the party talks about the destruction of the Anvil, mentions chatting with the Balor (which upsets and intrigues the lady), being sent by Sandruu. She exchanges for this knowledge her own about Seraphim and Leshrac. Sorval then spends the rest of their time together chatting about himself and the Legion. The group eventually invites Feryja to join them to Sengir's place.

Walking for a longer period of time, the group comes across a camp led by someone who calls himself Ezauchton, a Sengir Autocrat, and two peasant servants, Wilhelm and Maurice. The group then makes dinner for everyone. The peasants seem happy enough with their life here, explaining leaving the barony could see their families killed, while Sorval speaks of dragonslaying.

As night falls, the group sets up watches. Zantaroth keeps first watch, while Vultha dreams of ghosts. The first ghost was a farmer, but it provides little intelligence. A second one is an Orzhovian, who divulges a lot of intel to Vultha on Iskren, such as the optional death being a benefit to the guild or their presence on Ulgrotha being a boon.

The second watch falls under Sorval's care. A purple-haired being approaches Sorval, a large being, clad in flowery chainmail, introducing herself as the Queen of the Evendusk, Who Brings The Aurora. She doesn't appear to have a weapon on her, asks about the party's dragon-friend and requests Sorval to find a book about the Purple Queen and cast dispel on it, for she is bound to it by magic.

The third watch belongs to Taurio, who scares off a group of shadow fey. 

Xivaskir 27

In the morning, the group chats about what happened, with Sorval querying Feryja for the Purple Queen. Vultha mentions the ghost council visit to Iskren, who is thankful for the info.

Koshun Pass - The Anvil

Party: Zantaroth / Vultha / Taurio / Sorval / Iskren

 Xivaskir 26

Our heroes make their way through the cavern, discovering a group of cultists disturbing some debris, before being ambushed by two demonic guard-apes. The cultists split and the party chase one of them straight into a group of Orog guardsmen. Defeating those, they discovered several rooms that made up the underground complex, with Zantaroth helming the infiltration, kicking open the door to an eagle or falcon related chapel, discovering a dark room where a mysterious being attacked the group (and was eventually dispatched) while giving chase to one of the Orogs that ran away and eventually clashing with a group of reanimated minotaur skeletons. 

Once the party caught up and all immediate threats were slain, they dove even deeper into the complex to discover the tiles that they had been traversing giving way to rough-hewn and natural curves and chasms. A group of goblins camping out point them in the direction of the Anvil, warning them a certain white-haired loon might be involved with it. Iskren makes a prayer to Sengir to ask for guidance. The party then sunders it and prepares to meet the bound entity it held... another Balor!

(Combat sessions are a lot of fun for recapping)

Ulgrotha: Strongrock and Beyond (at last)

 Party: Sorval / Zantaroth / Vultha / Iskren / Taurio

Xivaskir 25

Vultha heads to Ivar's Ballistics, attempting to find a ranged weapon that exceeds his own. Some bartering later, Vultha has emptied his pouch in exchange for a pretty looking metal crossbow, a super exclusive cleaning cloth and a pair of keychain whippersnappers (collectable numbered miniature crossbows that fire whips). 

After a quick and worrying detour to the multitalented goblin Giglund, big Z and Vultha head to Snarfblatt to procure a tattoo for Zantaroth. Sadly enough, Vultha spent all the funds the pair had available on ranged weapons and keychains. So they seek out the closest source of gold.... Iskren!

Taurio and Sorval head to the Irone Brotherhood's HQ where they meet Jaja, a man covered in dried blood and rusted armour. The pitch made by Sorval for recruitment goes something like "Return uncertain, leaders instable, foes unknown, death likely". Taurio offers board and gear to sweeten the deal, dropping the rates a moderate amount. The pair leaves a deposit with a reservation for two months. Sorval mentions whoever will pick up the mercenaries will have a Boros symbol.

Afterwards, Sorval seeks out Iskren and delivers a beautifully crafted gold-and-raven themed armour. Chuffed about it all, Iskren spreads the happy mood, spending a few moments on making compliments and even passing on a priceless gift from Vultha to Sorval. Zantaroth explains his need for the ink and dipping into the party fund, the group (minus Taurio) decides to fund it. Z, Taurio and Vultha head over to Snarfblatt again, where Zantaroth has a red field with a golden star with a black circle in the middle, from which an armoured angelic wing sprouts, on it and from the red field flow some branches over the jaws tattooed on his throat to face area. Depending on how the light catches the massive lizard, the tattoo glows blue.

Xivaskir 26

Finally moving past the administrative bits, the party breathes free mountain air beyond Strongrock. Taking a decently paced walk, the party eventually finds remains of the rumours Iskren had caught. Splitting off from the beaten track, they find a goblin who (Sorval and Vultha combine to deduce) stabbed himself after poisoning and eating his own innards. A little further off, they spy a clutch of winged lizards, whom they engage in combat. The fighting draws out a larger, more adult variant of winged being. Combined, the creatures cause some damage with their acid breath, but eventually fall to the combined might of the party. In the end, Sorval heroically slays the large beast with a single blow of his Frostbrand.

The group then rests and loots the corpses for meat, bones and coins before spotting a trapdoor which leads into a cave or cellar of sorts. 

Ulgrotha: Rocking around the Big Z Tree

Party: Iskren / Taurio /  Vultha / Sorval / Zantaroth

Xivaskir 23 - 25

From the Mountain Shade Temple, Vultha rejoins the group by finding Zantaroth at the Parlor of Pardons and then, they meet up with the others at the breakfast table of the Retreat. They discuss going through a ritual to help Zantaroth remove his curse.

Going back to the spot where Vultha communed with Autumn Willow in the Mountain Shade Temple, Iskren casts a spell to remove the curse, which leads to the party defeating a grey monster inside of (what they surmise is) Zantaroth's Dreamscape.

Afterwards, they communicate with Sengir and learn of the proximity of another Black Anvil, which they can use to gain access to another potential Balor ally and destabilize Leshrac. 

With their spat behind them and a feeling of more mutual respect, Iskren and Sorval head to the smithy, followed by Zantaroth, and work progresses on the gear Sorval was making. Vultha and Taurio wind up at the Anaba Lodge, where they inquire after tattoos (being informed of two potential masters of the craft: Snarfblatt - the minotaur tattooist - and Giglund - a goblin mystic).

And thus, we head into downtime. 

Iskren spent some time and effort on getting to know the location of the Black Anvil, first through spellcraft (which fails, due to protective measures taken against the powers of Sengir and detection in general) and then through social interaction and mild application of pressure (which succeeds and points to a path in Koshun Pass, diverging from the main road to the Barony, where several hunters have either gone missing or half-eaten corpses were found). Having obtained this, and in return for applying some of the mild pressure aforementioned, Iskren turns their attention to teaching Zantaroth a bit of their restraint and techniques for focusing the mind. 

Taurio and Sorval spend some time together at the Anaba Lodge, where being seen with Taurio makes sure Sorval is treated with some deference and respect, and is allowed to see the Runesmith at work. Watching the aged minotaur craft intricate symbols of power helps Sorval a little along his path as a crafter, while Taurio gets to perfect a specific refined Kefir - Kumis.

Vultha spends a lot of time at the Mountain Shade Temple, putting a lot of effort into crafting two beautiful statues, one of Autumn Willow and one of Arcades Sabboth, during these moments, Vultha spends a lot of time lost in thoughts and in tune with nature, just becoming one with the landscape at times. Without noticing it, he changes the land around him and by the time he finishes his work, small outlines of a feminine form grace the insides of the tree where he was working. 

Zantaroth, checking in on his friend with a bit of unusually obtained meat, notices the presence of Autumn Willow in the hollowed tree and the two discover the place to have become consecrated to Autumn Willow. Taken aback a little but both feeling very satisfied, they spend some time together munching on the meat and reflecting on nature, leaving them both restored in body and mind after the arduous month they lived through.

Ulgrotha: Something punny with rock

 Party: Vultha / Sorval / Iskren / Taurio / Zantaroth

Xivaskir 22

After the pitfight, the party noticed Zantaroth running out, so they follow him out. 

Iskren and Sorval decide to leave the talking to Taurio and Vultha. Those two trail Z to the outside of town, all the while trying to get an explanation for his behavior. Zantaroth explains he was overcome with hunger, but no sure reason for the aggression leaps to the fore of his mind.

The three meet Tevesh Szat in the forest who offers a deal to Zantaroth, trading a 'control pendant' for a future favour. Zantaroth pretends to attune to the pendant. Afterwards, Tevesh disappears into a shimmering portal, where floating isles topped with white castles make up most of the vision. The three return to the town.

Iskren retires to their room after encountering a follower of Sengir who gives him some coin, as does Sorval, who spends the evening studying his Frostbrand.

 Zantaroth eventually finds his way to Iskren, disturbed by the item he had received and seeking some aid in shielding his mind. Iskren talks with Zantaroth about events that transpired. From the pendant, a certain aura of cold malice emanates, menancing. Also, a deep voice echoes within Zantaroth's mind, urging him to violence and almost driving him to distraction. Iskren takes the item and puts it to the side, the voice shifting into a more subtle whisper that seeks to convince Iskren to grasp more power. The cleric steels themselves, shoves the item under their pillow and talks to Zantaroth about it influencing the mind and friendship. They also suggest to cure Big Z with all powers at his disposal. 

"Your problems are our problems [...] Everything that is yours, is mine." - Iskren

After Zantaroth leaves, Iskren and Taurio talk about investments such as booze, 'not getting stabbed'-clothes, the metaphysical nature of the soul and legal possession of such things. Taurio siddles out of the room a little richer and still the owner of his spiritual elements.

Vultha, arriving at the Mountain Shade Temple outskirts, meets Loosha (a minotaur mercenary who accompanied the group from the bridge to Strongrock) and has a bit of a chat with her about Taurio before she leaves disappointed with a lack of information. Vultha then meditates near the statue of Autumn Willow he had crafted. In his meditative dreams, Vultha realises the plans Szat shows him in his dreams, they are not what he seeks for the Shademurk or nature at all.

Zantaroth sleeps an uneasy dream, with Szat standing near him and telling him he ought to have kept what he was given, before a mucky red ground sucks Zantaroth into an unnatural darkness. Waking up, there are clawmarks around the bedding.

Iskren communes with Baron Sengir, learning the magics of Szat are not specifically unending or all-mighty. The Baron suggests enforcing gratitude in those aided in order to gain leverage with Autumn Willow. He also thinks it would be fun to give Zantaroth wings.

Xivaskir 23

Sorval takes an early bath, the party meets at breakfast. They plot to check out the Anaba Lodge, the Irone Brotherhood and discover Vultha not being around. Going to 'the graveyard', Sorval talks to Big Z and has a bit of a discussion about power with Iskren. The chat goes a bit sour, but they agree to discuss it later on.

At the Mountain Shade Temple, Vultha notices the grass around the statue he had carved having become more healthy, fresher somehow. He takes the statue and goes looking for the party.