Arik's Quest

Novan 16th - 20th

The party are in the private chambers of Arik Warslayer, the High Priest of Malakar in Isirin. Hokaru casts detect undead and discovers one close by, although he cannot see it. Arik turns to Blant Farrand and Graz Tak and urges them to swear an oath to take on the quest he has – as yet – not revealed. Despite misgivings from Hokaru the two men accept the High Priest’s offer.

"King Gralnadar has been on the throne for eighteen years," Arik begins, "and I am sure you are aware of the tension between the monarchists and those of the Faith. During his reign he has had three queens and countless consorts but to date not one of them has borne him a child.

"That is until now. There is one woman – his concubine – who is with child. She is called Jaelana. Apart from myself, Malakar and the king this knowledge is secret, so you can understand my caution at this point. If this child is born it will invigorate the monarchists and lead to a rise of nationalism that will not serve Malakar well. I for one would be happy if the king remained childless and the line ended with him.

"Jaelana’s family live here. In fact this very night she will land at the remote southern wharf and gather some essential provisions before returning to Malakor and the safety of Gralnadar’s palace. Once there she will be beyond my reach.

"The task is simple. I want Jaelana to disappear and never be found. Complete this task successfully and you will have your reward…"

Blant leads the party to reconnoitre the southern wharf. It is early evening and – at a quiet location – he casts rope trick and they all climb into the extra-dimensional space to talk tactics. Whilst within it he creates two more polymorph self scrolls; they plan to try to ambush the small boat before it lands at the wharf. By changing into large fish (and other such creatures) their aim is to get her into the water and capture her.

Blant sends Fluck – his familiar – out to sea as he and his companions take to the water. Before long Fluck spots a small boat, six oarsmen and a light below deck. Convinced this is the vessel Blant Farrand launches a fireball at it. The sorcerous flame smashes a gaping wound in the side of the small vessel, damage that will sink it within minutes. As the sailors scurry for the shore a large Drenai warrior appears on deck. He hurls a couple of large swords and sighs as he dispenses with a two-headed greataxe.

"We must go master Luckwarden!" a sailor says. The large warrior swims towards the shore with his companions.

Morikand, Graz Tak and Hokaru see that there is no woman on board…they have attacked the wrong boat! They head immediately for the southern wharf. Meanwhile Blant Farrand (now a large shark) decides to try to bite the Drenai warrior and drag him down to his death. But the large man proves a tough opponent, even in the water he is able to deliver three blows with a dagger to the shark’s snout (unhurt because of stoneskin). Blant gives up and heads back to the harbour.

When Morikand and the others arrive at the southern wharf a rowing boat with two sailors, two warriors and a beautiful Nyrnian woman is securing ropes to the secluded wharfside. Morikand lands as a seagull on the boat as Hokaru positions himself a short distance away on dry land as a human. Graz Tak is also in human form in the water unseen, at an opportune moment he reads a scroll of fireball and the small vessel quickly turns into an inferno.

Both sailors dive back into the water as Jaelana and the two warriors are on deck. Hokaru casts melf’s acid arrow at one of the guards before unleashing the katana and stepping into the fray. Morikand tries to grapple Jaelana but the young woman shrugs him off initially. The first tall Nyrnian guard rushes out to meet Hokaru angrily but the Darklander is ready; he ducks under a wild swing before slashing upwards to spill the brains of the warrior all over the harbour floor.

In the distance Blant sees the flare of Graz’s fireball, turns into a hawk and races back to the fight.

Graz Tak slashes with the blade of Hellath at the remaining warrior but his attempt to flee is not good; he trips and lies prone at the warrior’s feet. The Nyrnian crashes a sword down onto the thief’s head but it bounces harmlessly off him (stoneskin). Graz uses the man’s astonishment and fear and is quickly on his feet. He drives the longsword through his eyeball and blood is spilt once more.

Jaelana sprints away with Morikand after her. Blant Farrand’s keen hawk eyes spot them and he lands along their projected course. Now Graz Tak, the fastest sprinter in the party and the man with knowledge of the alleyways, is also ahead of the frightened young woman. A simple leg out trips her, she crashes into a wall and when she rises to her feet the four men have her trapped in a dim backyard…there is no escape!

Morikand casts dispel magic on her and whatever protections she carries are gone. "Who are you?" she says. Blant tries to polymorph her into a rabbit but fails twice. Instead they gag her, bind her hands and feet and Graz casts a scroll of invisibility onto her to secure her even further. Finally Morikand reaches for the Soul Compass and asks it: "Show me the heir to the Nyrnian throne." Incredibly the needle spins rapidly round and raises the question that they have been lied to by the High Priest. Blant casts rope trick and decides that it would be safer (and more discreet) to have the conversation within the safety of the spell.

Within the rope trick the party hatch a plan for the woman Jaelana. Morikand is insistent that they return to their innhouse where he will perform the necessary rituals. Two hours after midnight they find themselves back at Bilic’s innhouse where Morikand creates his first ever pentacle. The rest of the party stay away as he prepares (with the woman inside the pentacle) to summon a demon.

Morikand Bitchpiss draws upon the power of demonology and through a portal drags a demon into the pentacle. He immediately casts a binding to control it. Despite Jaelana’s protests he then binds the rat-like creature to the unborn foetus. Instantly the ritual is complete and all four men haul her out to the stables.

Blant casts polymorph other and turns her into a grey mare, the kind of horse that would blend in on the plains and grasslands of Nyrn.

Blant and the others rest until noon. When they feel they have enough strength they gather their horses (Blant rides Jaelana) and head out into the wilds. At the northern gatehouse they see the legendary Drenai warrior Drusor Luckwarden arguing with a captain of the Nyrnian guard. He is unaware that the man who tried to drown him hours earlier passes…Blant wears a wide grin as they make for the plains.

Two days later they come across a herd of six hundred wild Nyrnian horses. Blant Farrand frees Jaelana and she gallops quickly to be with the rest of the herd.

"What now?" Morikand asks.

Blant casts an eye south. "Now we claim our reward…"