Dark Age of Eracost Session 28

From my perspective playing Fingol.

Party

• Baron Fingol Innes, Navgarine Keeper of the Stars 5

• Ranenno, Navgarine Forester-Bard 2

• Karmrakir, Tratkean Thief 4

• Nalin, Assassin 3

• Gregosz, Fighter 2

• Uomir, Fighter 2

• Szaldar, Keudan Priest 2

• Runor, Venturer 2

• Frannoc Dreiwan, Navgarine Agent 3

• Llewyn, Lynx 1

Summary

The party collected their pay and gained some measure of favor from the Lord Priest Ilmevon of Talbruin by delivering proof of the beastmen and attercop found in the tin mines. After two days' rest we delved again and encountered some men from the rifts.

Recap

Nov 3

“Beastmen and worse, my Lord Priest.”

Ranenno displayed the string of hobgoblin heads, and Karmrakir the head of the hideous attercop.

This time, Lord Priest Ilmevon (formerly transcribed as Ilmanar) was more subdued. Faced with proof of his mistake, he asked for time to consider his next move, and paid us a month’s wages. Asked about the attercop’s claim to be there for “vengeance”, he had no idea. Asked about the possibility of Gadaszin being beneath our feet, he gave a non-answer.

Although he was no longer hostile, his lazy answers and request for a month to think about what to do about the mine continued to convince us of Ilmevon’s incompetence. We also needed funds beyond just a month’s merc wages, so we decided to return to the mine again and get to the bottom of it. The foreman had promised us whatever loot we could find beyond their tin ingots.

The next two days were spent resting and engaging in some rumormongering, buying and selling. Fingol continued to study his book of Spellward (5/7).

Rumors:

• An assigner cult has arisen in Zel Charakt.

• An old man arrived in Talbruin, stared into the sea, and then set off in a boat and never returned.

• The corruption of Gadaszin appears to be pulling back from the Final Wall!

• A keeper from Navgarine was seen in Talbruin.

• The Duke’s expedition to Zel Charakt failed. Now there will be a war!

Nov 6

Explored the mines without splitting the party this time.

Slew a group of gnolls and proceeded to the lower level. Frannoc, scouting alone, spotted some men with the glass-like appearance of men from the Rifts. He snuck away without being seen.

We arrived in force and engaged them with lightning, slaying all but one. Frannoc chased the man and convinced him to parley. He spoke in Ancient Aramat, which the priest Szaldar and Fingol were both well familiar with. The man’s name was Saulos. We questioned him, but he remained very tight-lipped. He revealed that his group had been searching for two others of their kind, but would not reveal his greater mission or the name of his master. He offered two small onyx gems in exchange for his life, but Fingol demanded information, or his life. He refused, so Fingol followed through on the threat and blasted him with lightning.

Fingol attempted to harvest ectoplasm from the men, but they were not truly ghosts. They carried a decent sum of coin and gems, as well as two potions and a mysterious dust.

Strategic Overview

Fingol’s Goals

Immediate

• Grow the domain of Vigilant Keep

• Find the properties of the Staff of Ninavar

• Brew healing potions

• Uncover the truth of what has happened at Blessed River

Moderate term

• Find the Amalgam

• Find Ierocain

• Settle the score with the Nimonuin Trade Guild

• Overthrow Lord Priest Ilmevon of Talbruin

• Learn more of the monster-siphoning magic used by Ierocain

Longer term

• Strengthen civilization against Gadaszin

• Defeat the evil of Gadaszin and drive the forest of corrupted flesh back

Experience

Reserve xp: 346

Fingol Keeper 5 18896 / 29120

Kilosz Fighter 4 8653 / 16000

Tavenna Keeper 3 7100 / 7280

Iazhir Dragonman 3 5921 / 10240

Ranenno Forester-Bard 2 2544 / 3960

Domain

Vigilant Keep

Barony of 1 6-mile hex (Z12)

Land value 5

Population: 142 families

Stronghold value: 60,000gp

Mercenary garrison (210gp / month):

• 10 light infantry A (javelineers) 6gp each, 60 total

• 8 heavy infantry C (spearmen in banded plate) 12gp each, 96 total

• 6 bowmen 9gp each, 54 total

Workshop value 4100gp

Expeditionary Force

Fingol, Tavenna, Iazhir and Ranenno on riding mules

Renenno’s Wolf

Armored War Bear

Kilosz on Medium Warhorse with backup War Mule

Animal handler with 2 hunting dogs, 5 war dogs

Baggage train of 10 draft donkeys

Mercenary squad of 5 spearmen in banded plate, 3 crossbowmen (114gp)

Dark Age of Eracost Session 27

I missed the session, Fingol was controlled by Frannoc’s player.

Party

• Baron Fingol Innes, Navgarine Keeper of the Stars 5

• Ranenno, Navgarine Forester-Bard 2

• Karmrakir, Tratkean Thief 4

• Nalin, Assassin 3

• Gregosz, Fighter 2

• Uomir, Fighter 2

• Szaldar, Keudan Priest 2

• Runor, Venturer 2

• Frannoc Dreiwan, Navgarine Agent 3

• Llewyn, Lynx 1

Summary

The vigilants finished the first delve of the Talbruin tin mine, destroying a number of monsters but finding paltry treasure.

No full recap since I wasn’t there. Monsters slain included a hideous attercop and two carrion horrors. Treasure was a small amount of silver and a shell necklace.

Strategic Overview

Fingol’s Goals

Immediate

• Grow the domain of Vigilant Keep

• Find the properties of the Staff of Ninavar

• Brew healing potions

• Uncover the truth of what has happened at Blessed River

Moderate term

• Find the Amalgam

• Find Ierocain

• Settle the score with the Nimonuin Trade Guild

• Overthrow Lord Priest Ilmevon of Talbruin

• Learn more of the monster-siphoning magic used by Ierocain

Longer term

• Strengthen civilization against Gadaszin

• Defeat the evil of Gadaszin and drive the forest of corrupted flesh back

Experience

Reserve xp: 346

Fingol Keeper 5 18345 / 29120

Kilosz Fighter 4 8653 / 16000

Tavenna Keeper 3 7100 / 7280

Iazhir Dragonman 3 5921 / 10240

Ranenno Forester-Bard 2 2418 / 3960

Domain

Vigilant Keep

Barony of 1 6-mile hex (Z12)

Land value 5

Population: 142 families

Stronghold value: 60,000gp

Mercenary garrison (210gp / month):

• 10 light infantry A (javelineers) 6gp each, 60 total

• 8 heavy infantry C (spearmen in banded plate) 12gp each, 96 total

• 6 bowmen 9gp each, 54 total

Workshop value 4100gp

Expeditionary Force

Fingol, Tavenna, Iazhir and Ranenno on riding mules

Renenno’s Wolf

Armored War Bear

Kilosz on Medium Warhorse with backup War Mule

Animal handler with 2 hunting dogs, 5 war dogs

Baggage train of 10 draft donkeys

Mercenary squad of 5 spearmen in banded plate, 3 crossbowmen (114gp)

Dark Age of Eracost Session 26

 From my perspective playing Fingol.

Party

• Baron Fingol Innes, Navgarine Keeper of the Stars 5

• Ranenno, Navgarine Forester-Bard 2

• Karmrakir, Tratkean Thief 4

• Nalin, Assassin 3

• Gregosz, Fighter 2

• Uomir, Fighter 2

• Szaldar, Keudan Priest 2

• Runor, Venturer 2

• Frannoc Dreiwan, Navgarine Agent 3

• Llewyn, Lynx 1

Summary

In a week of downtime, Fingol set his henchmen to work on strategic upgrades to Vigilant Keep.

A reduced portion of the Vigilants traveled to Talbruin, met its incompetent ruler, and delved into an infested mine.

Downtime

Oct 25:

Fingol uses the money saved for Sapporo (with the party’s agreement) and his own gold to buy:

- potion materials (2000gp - this is for the non-magical material cost of potions)

Ranenno continues studying lightning bolt at the Academy.

Oct 26:

Fingol, Tavenna, Kilosz and Iahzir take the expeditionary force and travel to Vigilant Keep.

Ranneno remains in Amtolosz, studying. day 3.

Oct 27:

Fingol administers the domain.

Kilosz, Tavenna and Iahzir take 2 spearmen, 2 crossbowmen, 5 donkeys and go to Rantalin. No metamphorae.

They have 2900gp to buy supplies.

Oct 28:

Fingol takes the remaining mercenaries (3 spearmen, 1 crossbowman) and remaining animals (war bear, war dogs, hunting dogs, 5 donkeys) and returns to Amtolosz.

Kilosz and Iahzir begin buying tools at the market rate, 30gp per day. They will be done in 63 days (Dec 29).

Tavenna begins buying rare books at the market rate, 66gp per day. She will be done in 15 days (Nov 11).

Oct 29:

Fingol works on studying Spellward.

Oct 31:

Ranenno final day of study.

Nov 1:
Fingol and Ranenno are ready for adventure.

End of month for Vigilant Keep:

• Garrison requirement: 172gp

• Merc costs: 210gp (split with Gregoire)

• Income: 688gp (split with Gregoire)

• Net income for Fingol: 239gp

• Population growth: +56 = 142 families

• New garrison requirement: 284gp

Session Recap

Nov 1, 427

Fingol, Frannoc and Karmrakir met back up in Amtolosz and Karm introduced his new henchmen: a priest named Szaldar and a merchant named Runor, both hired in Rantal. Karm also presented his long-term plan to overthrow the Amtolosz thieves guild and install himself at its head. He’d begin by embedding agents in it where possible. The party generally agreed to assist him in this, but there was little to do right away.The more immediate priority was to secure more funds for the party’s ambitious plans, including Fingol’s magic research into the Staff of Ninavar, and potion brewing.

Not wanting to return to the dungeon beneath Blessed River without their full forces, the party decided to head for Talbruin. There was a rumor of a closed mine that we hoped would be a lucrative delve, and we also had a rumor that the Amalgam had gone that way.

Nov 2

We arrived at Talbruin and spoke with the guards on the road. Asked about the mine he says that a disaster happened months ago where men were slain, and the deep mine has been closed ever since, with only surface mining happening.

We stayed at the Morning’s Victory Inn.

Nov 3

We went to the tin mine. The foreman spoke to us, said his men encountered pre-existing caves, and a man saw what he describes as strange webs and veins, and the shadow of a creature. This very much resembled the corruption of Gadaszin we had seen ourselves.

We returned to the town and sought out an audience with the Lord Priest, Ilmanar of Talbruin. The Vigilants were received in audience, but Talbruin’s ruler refused to employ us! With obvious aristocratic arrogance, he claimed that his countrymen were simply lazy, and making excuses to avoid work. He wouldn’t even consider the possibility of monsters or the influence of Gadaszin. The man was so incompetent that before the conversation was over, each of us silently considered the prospects of overthrowing his government.

Finally, we agreed with him to accept mercenaries' wages (a paltry reward indeed - are we not men of nobility, dragon slayers and the heroes of the Earldom of Amtolosz?) to confirm or disprove the claims of his men.

After leaving the Lord Priest’s tower, we added his eventual overthrow to our growing list of goals.

Back at the mine, we strategized with the helpful foreman. There were two elevator shafts leading into the deep mines, but only one operational elevator. Our plan was to split the party (this always works). A stealthy team consisting of Karm, Frannoc and Nalin, accompanied by Llewyn the Lynx and Karmrakir’s trained Giant Spider would climb down the incomplete elevator shaft, while Fingol lead the remainder of our forces down the operational one.

Both teams began their delves. Fingol’s team dispatched a group of luminous beetles. The stealth team heard sounds indicative of beastmen, moved stealthily past, and later ran into striges which posed little problem.

Both teams have more to explore next session.

Strategic Overview

Fingol’s Goals

Immediate

• Grow the domain of Vigilant Keep

• Find the properties of the Staff of Ninavar

• Brew healing potions

• Uncover the truth of what has happened at Blessed River

Moderate term

• Find the Amalgam

• Find Ierocain

• Settle the score with the Nimonuin Trade Guild

• Overthrow Lord Priest Ilmanar of Talbruin

• Learn more of the monster-siphoning magic used by Ierocain

Longer term

• Strengthen civilization against Gadaszin

• Defeat the evil of Gadaszin and drive the forest of corrupted flesh back

Experience

Reserve xp: 346

Fingol Keeper 5 18163 / 29120

Kilosz Fighter 4 8653 / 16000

Tavenna Keeper 3 7100 / 7280

Iazhir Dragonman 3 5921 / 10240

Ranenno Forester-Bard 2 2327 / 3960

Domain

Vigilant Keep

Barony of 1 6-mile hex (Z12)

Land value 5

Population: 142 families

Stronghold value: 60,000gp

Mercenary garrison (210gp / month):

• 10 light infantry A (javelineers) 6gp each, 60 total

• 8 heavy infantry C (spearmen in banded plate) 12gp each, 96 total

• 6 bowmen 9gp each, 54 total

Workshop value 4100gp

Expeditionary Force

Fingol, Tavenna, Iazhir and Ranenno on riding mules

Renenno’s Wolf

Armored War Bear

Kilosz on Medium Warhorse with backup War Mule

Animal handler with 2 hunting dogs, 5 war dogs

Baggage train of 10 draft donkeys

Mercenary squad of 5 spearmen in banded plate, 3 crossbowmen (114gp)

Finance

Pre session: 4412gp

Income:

+1898 from sapporo’s treasure share

+239 income from Vigilant Keep domain

Spending:

-2000 healing potion material components

-2900 money sent with henchmen for library and workshop upgrades

-400 monthly living expenses

-450 henchmen salaries

-114 personal mercenary salaries

6549 - 5864 = 685

Post session: 685gp