Depths of Corruption

Descending into the depths of the Sultry Siren, the party finds Favien conducting dark business with a man called Jarin who seems to be orchestrating the recent troubles. After overhearing Jarin and Favian implicate the captain of the guard Alben Prewdact in a scheme with the Baku to recover the book, the party emerged from their hiding spot to launch an attack. Jarin transformed into a demon and summond allies form the abyss to join him in giving battle to the heroes. In the melee Favien tried to escape but was savaged and nearly drowned by the party's summoned monsters. After dispatching the enemy, the party split up, half taking Favian back to Ms. Tyrell's manor and the balance looking for treasure and covering the group's tracks.

After the party reunited at the manor, a group of the city guard showed up at the gate of the manor at the crack of dawn demand to enter the manor and take Favien into custody. Hesitant to open the gates due to the town guard's confirmed connection to the Bakku, the half the party with the book was led out of a secret back entrance through an underground network of tunnels into the 3rd district.

A Dark Dinner and Dockside Delving

After a good day’s rest, the party visited the workshop of the famous blacksmith Daquan Melling who revealed that the dagger was ordered by one Favian deMawbray, a member of the guild of teamsters and longshoremen. That evening lady Tyrell hosted a dinner party where the heroes got a chance to meet some of the great and the good in the city. At the head table the conversation got heated at several points, boiling over when a dispute erupted between Favian and Master Commonbrook, member of the honourable guild of mercers, over some lost merchandise. The party chimed in trying to goad Favian into rashness and also ran afoul of the captain of the guard Allen Prewdact, who himself exchanged threats with Lord Terrowin Lorneheart, the Archmage of the Mystic Order of Frinchshaw. As the tension came to a point, Favian left the event in frustration.

After the dinner the heroes went to investigate the Sultry Siren based on the lead they received from the imprisoned thug. After splitting up and investigating different areas of the tavern, the group discovered that the tavern has a secret lower level where Favian was located, conducting some suspicious business. After a quick scrap in the back room, the party started down the stairs into the underbelly of the Siren. 

Arrival in Appellane

At the urging of Sora and Tormund, the party decided it was best to investigate Alvroelle's meeting, both in the interest of retaking Oym Edhil from the orcs, but also as a force multiplier to gain access to the teleportation circle. Through Alvorelle's mysterious magic, the group was able to travel  undisturbed overland and make excellent time to the border city of Appellane.

Upon their arrival, the party was disconcerted not only with the imposing fortification of the vast city but also the numerous monstrous undesirables inhabiting the suburban camps around the walls and the 5th and 4th districts. Unbeknownst to his companions, Gallendan has a close cousin in the city by the name of Lady Tyrell - a famous and prosperous merchant located in the posh 2nd district of Appellane. While making their way through the city, the party detected that they were being watched and followed through the crowded streets by a posse of greenskins. After an ill-fated attempt at stealth and misdirection, the party ended up being confronted in a busy marketplace by a mob of orc and half-orc thugs being led by three human mercenaries. The combined might of the party proved too much for the assailants, who were overwhelmed and largely cut to shreds before attempting to flee. Tormund was able to catch one of the fleeing mercenaries with the broad side of his blade, knocking him unconscious for later questioning. A large squad of city guards arrived just moments after the fight, enquiring after the bloody disturbance, but Gallandan deftly put the sergeant under his spell and persuaded him to escort the party to Lady Tyrell's manor.

The heroes arrived at Lady Tyrell's manor house in the evening, where she received them and settled into a quiet evening by the fire. On a late night scouting sortie, Sora discovered a suspicious half-orc messenger observing the manor house, though he was gone by sunrise. The next morning the party took breakfast with Kraldohr Swifkind (dwarf) and Rochester Burtone (human), Lady Tyrell's old traveling companions who were in for a visit. Lady Tyrell warned them that she was scheduled to host a high-society ball in the evening, inviting the party to join at their own peril. After breakfast the party questioned the captive mercenary, who told the heroes about their pay arrangements at a seedy dockside venue after a spirited beating administered by Tormund. Lady Tyrell's spies were able to identify the maker's mark on an exotic dagger the mercenary had with him, pointing towards Daquan Melling, a famous blacksmith in the 3rd district.

Fruit of an Odd Tree

After a thoroughly degenerate night at the Golden Piss Pot, the party departed Fort Crusher towards the south-east, continuing on their way to Oym Edhil. As the journey progressed the weather began to turn, and the party sought shelter in an alcove among a cliff face along their route, hoping to shelter from the chill air. As dusk settled the party was attacked by a band of Baku agents descending on them from the cliffs to take them by surprise. The party managed to spot them in time and fought them off easily, capturing two for questioning. It was revealed that there was a Baku spy the name of Peg-Leg at Fort Crusher who had overheard them talk about the book and sent assailants after them to investigate. Sora sent a bird back to Crusher with a note to expose the agent.

The next day the party saw from a vantage point that an unknown force was combing through the woods presumably looking for them. The heroes fled deeper into the woods hoping to evade a confrontation, and eventually ran into a giant hostile tree creature. After a desperate battle, the heroes eventually slew the tree creature and freed Alvorelle Loraqen, the wood elf they had helped earlier, who had been captured by the tree. After thanking the party, Alvorelle invited them to join her on her way to the border city of Appelane, where other survivors of Oym Edhil gather to plan the recapture of the city. 

Strangers and Stranger Things

Inspired by the promise of lordship, the party set out with the accursed book, tracing a path along the eastern mountain range though the expansive forests to Oym Edhil. Along the rout the party witnessed a mysterious wood-elf being chased through the forest canopy by a drow leading a pack of armed werewolves all bearing a forbidding dark crest. Recognizing the stranger's heraldry as a fellow citizen of the ruined Oym Edhil, Sora called out to the fleeing elf and launched an attack to aid her countryman, who was able to flee as a result of the distraction. After a vicious battle the werewolves were slain and the drow elf captured and questioned. It was revealed that he was in the service of the forces of darkness and was bidden to run down anyone traversing through this area and slay them. Realizing that there were more werewolves who were bound to return momentarily, the party bargained with the draw to allow each other safe passage passage.

After a long, hard slog through the wilderness, the party decided to turn south and stop on at Fort Crusher to visit their friend and gather information. Arriving to what passes for a hero's welcome at Fort Crusher, the group immediately set upon The Golden Piss Pot tavern to hydrate themselves and sow exaggerated stories of their deeds among the local rabble. It was there that the group first met the brash barbarian warrior Illana who, the group discovered quite awkwardly, is crushers's daughter - though they seem to bear little resemblance. She told the party that the elf they had encountered has passed through Fort Crusher last night, which immediately piqued the party's interest. Ultimately the well intentioned fact-finding expedition degenerated into a raucous stein-hoist, culminating in Crusher loosing two consecutive armwrestling matches to a mysterious giant bear who appeared in the tavern.

The Dame and the Duke

After discovering a letter left behind by Tormund, the group follows him to the Blackrock Citadel where he has been hiding out in the duke's quarters. The party arrives a day behind him, only to find him sequestered away. Sora was able to make contact with Tormud by sneaking into the duke's chamber in the shape of a spider, revealing that Duke Reinheart was on his way back to consult on the matter. of the book. With time to spare, the party immediately set out to find trouble to pass the time.

Searching for secrets in the duke's library late one night, Dae meets the acquaintance of Diynah, a mysterious and mischievous vampire in the duke's court. After a brief encounter in the library, Dae convinces Diynah to help him retrieve the book from Tormund to examine its wonders.

The following dae some of the party members hatched a vague plan to access the duke's room with Diynah's help. At the same time, the plot was brewing the Duke returned to his chambers with Duchess Isabelle to consult with Tormund on the book. When the book was revealed to the duke he was not able to withstand its influence, leaving Tormund and Isabella to wrest it away from him. Just at that moment, the other party members gained access to the room to witness the duke's powerlessness to help with the book. The duke then told the party that their best chance was to bring the book to one of the kingdoms of light. He let the party know of two routes to the kingdom of Ghelnah where the party can seek guidance from one of the holy orders in safeguarding this knowledge from the forces of darkness.

Safeguarding the Book

After narrowly escaping the pursuing orc army in the Temple of Vecna, the party decided to strike out to the north-east, towards the Blackrock citadel hoping to get the duke's council in deciding how to safeguard the book. Wary of the book's influence, Tormund decides to take on the burden of carrying the cursed volume, having proven able to resist its influence. His instincts prove to be correct as his companions are increasingly interested in opening the book to learn of its secrets, urged on by Gillendan's endorsement of its wonder.

In the night the party gets attacked by a host of undead monsters. Adding to the confusion of the midnight attack, the book glamours various party members, disorganizing their effort to mount a counterattack. The party narrowly survives the encounter, deciding to move on and make camp in a cave further towards their destination. As the party settles down for the night, an uncomfortable tension comes up as the subject of the book is raised again and again. Following his instincts, Tormund takes off in the middle of the night with the book in order to keep it safe from the other party members. Alone, he makes all haste to the citadel where he holds up in the duke's bedroom while the duchess leaves to find the duke.