The Plot Thickens?

Hey everyone, its Thursday again, so with out further ado, this weeks update...

...The party continued their journey after the Orc's ambush, and soon found themselves in the village of Forwheren. They stopped briefly, and stayed a night at the local tavern. Some of the party members spied a older looking gentleman, a bard from the looks of the lute behind him, sitting at a table in the corner telling stories to the local children. However with nothing much to see in the town the next morning the party ventured forth and once again was on the road to North Portsmith.

...For the record, the bard at the tavern is a reference to the book that is the basis for the world of Quastalia. It is a book that you have never heard of, because it has not been finished yet, but it is the book that i started writing at the same time that I began writing the background for the world. Of course the characters in the book will appear in the world, but their plot line has never occurred in this world, most likely because it is the same plot line that I am using for the campaign. The bard that they saw is the narrator of the book, and the story they caught a piece of him telling was him telling the story as I had it written as to this point. Always nice to throw in some Easter eggs, even if you are the only person who understands them...

So the party arrives in North Portsmith, Ttitus Chrysan, the King's brother, and Portios, the Cleric of Lucineo in tow. Portios rushes off to report in to his superior, and the rest of the party splits up to to look through the moderately-sized port city, and see what they could find. After a bit of shopping and exploring though, they realize that Portios has not come back from the Temple. So, with the exception of The Machageer who felt no compulsion to enter a Temple of Lucineo, the party walked into the Temple in search of their recent acquaintance and traveling companion. Finding him easily enough the party asked him why he had not come back to tell them what all needed to be done with Titus, now that they had found him and he was willing to go where he was needed. Unfortunately when questioned, Portios acted as if he had never seen the party members before in his life, and after a quick round of sense motives, the party shared the belief that he at least 'thought' that he was telling the truth. Making polite advances, the party then found their way into the presences of the High Priest. Asking the High Priest the same question, he also demurred, and informed them that they must be mistaken, but as he asked Portios to shut the door, and he was alone with the party his demeanor changed. He inquired what the party knew about what was going on, and when they informed him of the demons that had been possessing the Clerics, he sighed and leaned back into his chair. The High Priest informed the party, that there were things happening in the world that had all of the Gods, not just Lucineo, up in arms about what to do. He told them that because of that he had agreed to the possession of the Clerics as long as it would help them complete the mission that he would be sending them on. It was simply the fact that the Clerics were too devout, that the demons inside them did not have the time they needed to complete their mission before the bodies started to reject their presence. Upon hearing this the party was confused and shocked, but the High Priest was adamant that it was the truth that he spoke. He admitted to having erased the Cleric's memory so he would have no idea as to what had happened. But that left the High Priest in a tough spot, for he still had to deliver Titus Chrysan to the Grand Temple in Volunthus. Inquiring as to the party's willingness to undertake the journey, and offering them a reward in the case of their success, the party agreed to safeguard Titus to the Fortress at Volunthus.

Leaving the Temple, and rejoining their necrotically-minded companion, the party made an effort to find a ship that would take them back across the water to the mainland. Finding a ship, "The Paladin's Mount" the took a direct route to the small port at Gathundi, where they had begun there adventure across the water. From there it was a simple five day ride back to Chrysanthus.

Let me stop here a moment folks for another of Eraser's DM Hints. There was a discussion within the party about which way they should approach coming back to the mainland. The two opinions were going to Gathundi and straight to Chrysanthus, thus accomplishing their first quest before moving on to the second. The other way, the way I thought they would take, and planned for, was to travel to Port City, the capital of the nation of Seaward, and then make their way from there either to Chrysanthus, or Volunthus, but either way having multiple towns, villages and national borders to cross. As a DM/GM I have learned that if a group has two options, and you want them to follow the one that helps your story, expect them to follow the other, and be prepared for it. (DM Hint #8)

As they began their trip from Gathundi I asked the party if they were sending word ahead of their arrival, but as they did not want to there was no fanfare to greet the adventurers as they made their way to the palace with the King's brother. They entered the palace and were taken before the King Dearol, who was absolutely thrilled to see, them. He even commented that they had made better time then he could have ever thought possible. He dismissed the party to the generosity of the palace as he brought his brother back into his private quarters to speak with him on what his life had been like this last fifteen years. Meanwhile our newly celebrated adventurers found that the palace staff was 'eager to please' the new favorites of the King, to which the party took to with much gusto. The next morning the King called in the adventurers to thank them again and to grant them their reward. In addition to the 1000GP that all of them would receive, they each also were allowed to take one item from the King's Guard's Armory.

For the record the majority of the players took Ring's of Protection +1, although there were a fewer other choices made, including The Machageer choosing a Robe of Bones.

After having received their reward, the party went back to the King's throne room to speak with him on the matter of his brother being needed at Volunthus on a matter of some importance. It was ironic that as they had not believed the High Priest immediately, that the King did not believe them. The party suggested that they bring in Titus to weigh in as well, and the King informed them that Titus was sitting with the Queen at her bedside. As they walked into the King's chambers to speak with his brother, along with six of the King's personal guard, they entered the room to find the Queen alone, and lying in bed. The party, having already dealt with the possession of the Cleric's earlier, saw exactly what was wrong with the Queen, and immediately called for Holy Water to be brought to the chamber. Even as one of the guards was rushing to comply, the beast within the Queen leapt forth to attack the King, who had learned near to her as she had tried to speak. As the demon came forth the guards rushed to the King's side, as the party tried to distract the beast while the guards tried to pull the King from its clutches. Succeeding in their efforts in distraction, and despite the Demon's dominance over a pair of the guards, the party succeeded in holding its attention long enough, and doing enough damage, to force the beast to retreat. For its part, the beast calling out before it teleported away that the companions had no clue as to what was really going on, and in the end the beast would have its revenge. Having no other recourse the party began a search of the town, and were rewarded when the guards from the main gate dragged back a man, that had fallen off of a wagon that had rammed the gate to break out of the city before it was sealed. Having no other leads, the party, at the King's insistence, interrogated the prisoner, before moving on to track the wagon. They learned that they were at least five other conspirators, led by a Lieutenant Petothal, and working for an Archmagi Nabukin. Other then that information, the man really knew nothing. So the party left him in the castle dungeon, and left the city, in the care of the King's own Huntmaster who helped them to track the wagon as it traveled north of the city.....

This is where the session ended for the night. It was a shorter session due to a late start, and some extracurricular activities by the players as the night went on, but for the most part everyone had a good laugh and had enjoyed the shortened scenario. Unfortunately do to work constraints I believe that we will be losing The Machageer, but no worries folks, a new player will be introduced next week I believe. Until then ladies and gentlemen, may your hammers fall true, and your staff by ever charged...

-Eraser