Select a result to preview

Session 0024 - Exit the Mournlands

Roster

Absent

Session Log

After the combat, Ferdinand and Alicia help gather the bodies of the slain wolves. They explain to Rorsa that the Mournlands are dangerous and unpredictable and that it probably is not a good idea to leave the bodies out in the open. Ferdinand recommends they be cremated using the crucible in the research facility.
Rorsa is saddened, but understands and agrees. She spent the last two decades here and knows that bodies do not decay like they should.
Meanwhile, the others begin to loot the bodies of the fallen soldiers. Crossbow bolts are gathered and used to restock supplies for Alicia. Eriana, Sarroxtíoð, and Ferdinand all help themselves to crossbows and a quiver of bolts.
They find a small amount of coinage on the bodies, and more on the necromancer they captured.
On the body of the spellcaster they also find what appears to be a wand and a vial of liquid.
Everyone decides to leave the corpses of the soldiers out here on the battlefield before they all return to the large chamber in the research facility that houses the crucible.
Once inside, they lower the crucible and get it ignited again. They use it to burn the bodies of the wolf while they take the time to rest and recover and wait for their captive to regain consciousness.
During this time, Rocinante and Saferous examine some items they recently acquired.
They are able to identify the following items in their stash:

Eventually the captive wakes up and Eriana begins to interrogate her. She tries to bluff with the captive that they will be merciful if she cooperates, but the necromancer, with clear hatred in her eyes, spits a reply "Hah! I'm dead either way. You can just go f--k yourself!"
To this Eriana replies, "Fine." She then makes a move to kick the captive but Ferdinand stops her and tries another tact. He says to the captive "Look, if you cooperate we can make sure your body is burned and not turned into an abomination or we can let the Mournland do what it will with you."
The captive seems appalled at the suggestion to burn her, and says "What does it matter? Once I die my body can be a useful vessel, so do what you will."
At this point Eriana and Alicia are both itching to kill the captive, and Eriana acts immediately. She kicks at the head of the necromancer until she goes unconscious again and keeps at it until she is quite dead. They then haul her body onto the crucible and let it burn to ash along with the other wolves.
Afterwards, the group spend the time recovering and decide to leave in the morning. They tell Rorsa that they will lead them outside the Mournland where the land is pleasant. This will slow them down considerably, from a trip to the wall that would take two hours by Failin's land cart to a full day with the wolves in tow. Their guide is not thrilled at this, but agrees.
In the morning they head out. The wolves are guided out of the large dome while others seal it from the inside and leave the complex the same way they came in - i.e. through the hatch in the cave complex, sealing the research facility the way they found it.
From here they set off to the nearest boundary to the Mournlands, due west.
The journey of some 30 to 35 miles takes about eight hours before they reach the roiling mists of the Mournland walls. They know that it is very disorienting in the mists and there is concern the wolves will get lost. Ferdinand uses rope to link al lthe wolves together, getting Rorsa to assure the wolves it is OK.
Linked together, they head into the mist. The elemental guiding the land cart drive straight and true due west while everyone else experiences the strange disorientation in the mists. After a short trip they emerge on the other side back into the lands of Darguun, due east of Fort Gorgonhorn.
it is raining and getting late, but they do not want to be near the road to the fort so Failin presses on for another hour due north before camping out.
On the morning of Aryth the 22nd they converse with Rorsa and say they are free to go, but explain to her that this land is ruled by goblinoids and likely not very hospitable. Alicia recommends they head north west to the Eldeen Reaches. There is a large forest there with peoples that are far more likely to be hospitable to her and the wolves. She offers directions and suggestions to avoid large settlements.
Rorsa agrees this is a good idea, and as she can speak it is possible for her to ask directions. This conjures up some amusing imagery of a massive wolve politely asking some lone farmer how to get to the Eldeen Reaches.
After this exchange, they part ways with the wolves as Failin and the party head north back to the Salvation outpost.
It takes two days to get back to the outpost. Once they arrive at the outskirts, Failin asks for the remainder of his promised 240 sp fee, and the party pay up. He simply says "Fare well, and good luck." (to which the party imagine he is also thinking "good riddance!").
The party check in at the lightning rail station in town and learn that the next train leaves at roughly noon the next day, so they book in the Gray Beyond tavern. Nobody seems to pay any attention to the fact it is the same group involved in a brawl less than a week ago. In fact, the place is not very busy at the moment and there are several vacancies so they are able to get three of the nicer rooms in the tavern for the night.
While they are all relaxing at a table and enjoying a meal and some drinks, a woman walks over and introduces herself as Elaydren. She asks if she might talk with them for a moment, and they agree so she pulls up a chair.
She says that she has been waiting her for their return and that she works for the professor. She asks if the party was successful in their mission. They are reluctant to answer, and eye her up and down for any sign of deception. Elaydren seems to be quite sincere, and sensing their discomfort, she adds "It is OK. You do not need to tell me anything specific. I would simply like to know if you succeeded, and I am relieved to see that you have returned from your journey. There is a train leaving tomorrow that I hope to be on heading back to Sharn. Will you be travelling as well?"
The party simply say that the mission was a success, and that they do intent to take the train. She replies happily, "Good then! I will see you on the train. Have a pleasant evening."
After that odd exchange, the party finish their meal - with Sarroxtíoð offering small drinking samples of his stash of salasta around. Alicia makes a point of avoiding alcohol, as she is suspicious of this place and is determine to keep her wits about her.
However, the evening passes quietly and the party have a good rest overnight.
In the morning they board the train to Vathirond and find that Elaydren is also boarding the train. She is wearing much finer clothing than she had at the tavern and carrying herself with more grace and confidence than before. Sarroxtíoð noticed that she is more refined that she seemed at the tavern but did not mention it. During their entire trip she simply smiles when she sees the group and does not engage them.
The trip to Sharn takes almost exactly three days along the lightning rail route. They are able to use the return pass they were given by the professor, and spend some restful periods at a couple of long stops at the major stations along the way.
Arriving around noon in Sharn on Aryth the 27th, Elaydren finally approaches them and asks "When do you think you will go to visit the professor?" They tell her that it is their intention to go to him immediately. She seems delighted to hear that, and replies "That is excellent news! I'd like to accompany you if you do not mind."
They agree, and after disembarking the train she tells the party that if they allow it, she would like to arrange transport to the Morgrave university. Leading the way, she takes the group to the nearest air transport station. The staff seem to recognize her and drop everything to get an air barge ready and lead the party on board. They can't help but notice a few people refer to her as "my lady", and there is no exchange of money or signing of documents for their transport.
From here they fly up to the university to visit the professor.