9 Darkmoon's
Trap
a.k.a.
The Laws sometime Sleep,
but never die
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Background:
While the Party is in Khaldor dealing with training and treasury,
Darkmoon learns that her mother died there a few weeks ago, killed
by a mob that attacked followers of Prince Sauros. Doubting that
her mother was a follower of Sauros, Darkmoon investigates and finds
that her mother's body was stolen by some Elves; clues point to
it having being taken across the bay. Together with the Party, Darkmoon
follows the trail and finds a burial with a trail leading to a cave
complex. They find out the hard way that it is a trap set for Darkmoon
by some old and forgotten foes.
All of this
was set up by Queen Phaedra, as revenge for Darkmoon's betrayal
in Pirates II. She arranged
for Ithilion's exposure as a (former) close follower of Prince Sauros.
She also ensured that some friends of Ithilion thought it best to
take the body and give it a decent exposure and burial out of town,
in an appropriate, discrete (and predictable) location. And finally,
Phaedra tipped off some old rivals of Darkmoon, informing them that
their old "friend" Blackmoon Bloodknife had resurfaced,
some good elven bait is dead in Khaldor, and wishing them happy
hunting. These pirates found and killed the innocent Elves, and
took Ithilion's bones to the nearby cave complex, where they set
up their trap.
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| July
10 |
Party
arrives in Khaldor. Darkmoon learns that her mother, Ithilion, a respected
actress with no political ties, was implicated as a close follower
of Prince Sauros and killed by a mob just 3 weeks ago; and that Ithilion's
body was stolen a week later. Over the next few weeks, the Party finds
many clues to where the body was taken - a secluded beach across the
bay from Khaldor. They also end up acquiring some new members:
Claude Pussyfoot (T1),
Rosie Pussyfoot (T1), and
Galion (F2/NrC2/T2) join.
(Galion pretends to be just a Cleric.) |
| August
6 |
Having
completed business in Khaldor, the Party follows the trail to the
beach. They find an exposure platform recently used, and a trail heading
into the woods. In the woods, they meet many undead, find that time
passes unusually fast, and meet 3 lost, dazed, and amnesiac travellers
who have been wandering in the woods for weeks: Arand
(R2), Niobe (NrC6), and
Derg (F4/T5) (re)join.
(Arand had left the Party at the end of The
Otherworld). |
| August
9 |
Party
comes to a lush, small, and steep-walled valley. The Party determines
that it is very unusual and magical (It is in fact a millennia-old
elven burial valley), and so they climb above so as to observe it
from above. While exploring on his own, Shawn falls into the valley;
continuing to explore, he finds a cave under a waterfall at the back
of the valley, and is captured. |
| August
10 |
Party
follows track of Shawn into a underground burial complex. They find
Shawn paralysed; deciding that he can stay that way a while longer,
the leave him and proceed further until they find a chamber in which
Ithilion's bones are nicely laid out on a table. Dozens of ancient
"wanted" posters for Blackmoon Bloodknife (Darkmoon's former
name as a pirate) cover the wall. Darkmoon exclaims "Me!".
There are also 3 notes by the bones:
To our dear, beloved Blackmoon:
With bones for bait, your fame out of date, water is now
your fate
- Love, Silvertooth and her friends Changeling and Morning Glory
The Laws sometime sleep, but never die
Revenge is a dish best served cold - wasn't that your
favourite line, Blackmoon?
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Darkmoon's
entrance into the chamber triggers a Limited Wish, which sends the
chamber rapidly sink 200', to below the water table. The walls of
the chamber fracture, and sea water seeps in. The Party detects a
flow through the chamber, breaks a hole in the wall, and finds they
are in an subterranean river complex. Barely surviving the icy cold,
they eventually find some dry caves. |
| August
11 |
Party
camps out, unsure where they are. Shawn remains paralysed in the rest
of the burial complex. |
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Surviving
members:
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Arlephone
(F4/MU4), Darkmoon (F5),
Hrudi (WrC5), Taro
(T4/F4), Shawn (MU4), Arand
(R2), John (B2), Pippin
(NtC3), Hamfast (T3),
Heyokah (NtC2), Claude
(T1), Niobe (NrC6), Derg
(F4/T5) |
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New
members:
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Claude
Pussyfoot, Rosie Pussyfoot
(T1), Galion (NrC2), Arand
(returns), Niobe, Derg |
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Casualties:
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Rosie,
Galion |
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Retirees:
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Hamfast
(temporarily), Hrudi, Shawn (temporarily) |
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Continuing
party:
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Arlephone, Darkmoon,
Taro, Arand, John, Pippin, Heyokah, Claude, Niobe, Derg
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