Guardians of the Grove 7/21/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

Return to Darkpoole

Session 7/21/22 

The Guardians reconvene after their shopping trip acquiring the goods and means to stop Fennic. After an initial failed attempt to use the teleportation circle to enter the Order of the Arcane Eye in Darkpoole, the group decided to use a teleportation scroll. Successfully arriving in the Dark Water Inn in Darkpoole. Upon entering, the group is warned by Vilt that the town is on high alert, looking for the Guardians. Vilt quickly kicks them out, and the group sneaks their way to the Villa. However, with no solid plan, the group hides in an abandoned pottery shop. Before establishing the next move, they notice that Blood and Corvus are not with them.

Elsewhere while disguised as Keepers, Corvus and Blood were pulled aside by a commanding officer of the Keepers. Ordered to help raise an additional Balista in a watchtower stationed in the middle of Darkpoole. After providing shitty assistance, they are sent to the latrine to clean. Convinced they were keepers, the duo head over to the latrines and stumble upon Fennic in the most unlikely place. The duo is able to convince Fennic they are doing their job, and she leaves. Nirruk, concerned about the duo, also finds his way to the latrines and encounters Fennic. Luckily, after a tense moment, he can proceed unbothered, retrieves the duo, and head back to the pottery shop.

Before Diego could embarrass himself and call out to the middle of nowhere for Lexa, he remembers that Nirruk could also reach out to Lexa, which he does. Lexa arrives on the scene and informs the group that the soldiers are still on high alert. She also proves her worth by telling the Guardians how she has poisoned the soldiers. Which Corvus and Blood were able to see firsthand with Fennic. The Guardians, with renewed confidence, set up a plan. Lexa will use her Keepers' horn to distract the Keepers in town, pulling them away from the VIlla while the Guardians approach Fennic. However, additional info about the disappearance of Mattias and a possible underground lair where people are being taken is revealed to the Guardians. Fueled by his desire to crush Fennic, Diego insists on getting Fennic first, losing sight of the big picture. The group breaks and successfully makes it to the Villa unseen and heads inside. 

Inside, it is not long before the Guardians attract attention; even while disguised, the group can make their way in, but after a suggestion spell wears off, the group is caught in a small skirmish. The Guardians quickly dismantled the Keepers before they could blow the horn. However, a small debate ensues about going after Fennic or to the underground where people are being kept. Atheya leads the group past the blood pool and encounters a large gelatinous creature that provides a challenge for the group before a sickly Fennic joins the fray. When the tide of battle turns in favor of the Guardians, Fennic hastily retreats into a door with Arcanic runes. Unfortunately, while Atheya and Nirruk combine their Arcanic knowledge to dispel the door, Fennic is able to escape. At the same time, the group stumbles into a dark underground chamber, not knowing what dangers lie ahead.

Special note: Wulf* did not die but rolled four critical hits!

Guardians of the Grove 7/07/22-7/14/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

The Three R’s Retreat, Revive, and Revenge

Session 7/07/22-7/14/22

The Guardians split up into groups; “Get It Done,” consisting of Diego, Corvus, Nirruk, and “Chaos Crew,” consisting of Atheya, Corvus, and Blood.

The “Get it Done” crew heads towards the Inn, where Mattias will have his meeting with Fennec. Nirruk casts disguise self to blend in with the guards and talks his way into the kitchen hidden from Fennec’s view. However, Nirruk quickly discovers that a spell has been cast to give Fennec and Mattias privacy. Meanwhile, Diego and Wulf sneakily make their way to the inn through the alleys, spotted by a young girl. Before making any observations, the girl is gone. Diego and Wulf are able to successfully hide in a building nearby to spy on the situation. They can witness Fennec’s arrival, but she magically closes the blinds once she enters. However, Diego and Wulf stay put and are immediately blackmailed into giving up a magical item each to the young girl, who threatens to blow a Keeper’s horn and reveal their location. In what appeared as a good idea at first, Diego enters a contract verbal contract with Lexa to pay her for her services to infiltrate the Inn without being detected. She casts invisibility on them, and they arrive at the Inn. Upon entering, the group meets with Nirruk. Nirruk then witnesses Fennec startled and watches as she quickly teleports away. 

Elsewhere, The “Chaos Crew” infiltrates the Villa; though Atheya has a heavy headstart, the Duo of Corvus and Blood eventually enter the VIlla disguised as Keepers. The group makes many discoveries inside. Runic symbols that may block an important passage, a statue of Verric the Cold, an enemy from Blood’s work, a pool of blood, and encased under Fennec’s bed a horde of decapitated heads. While investigating the room, the trio learns a bounty is out on the Guardian of the Grove. At this time, the group tries to make their way out of the room, Atheya sneaking back out the way she came in rat form. However, they quickly discover that the door is now magically sealed and unable to be picked by normal means as the door melts Blood’s thieves tools. At the same time, Fennec suddenly appears behind them.

 

Back at the Inn,  fearing there might be trouble at the VIlla with the other Guardians, Diego and Wulf leave Nirruk behind to keep an eye on Mattias. They exhaust themselves to get there quickly but can see no commotion from the outside and decide to take watch again. 

Inside the Villa, Fennec questions why the group has entered her space, but in true Guardian fashion, the situation turns violent quickly. However, the combined efforts of the rat Atheya, Iya and Oya’s champion, and Blood…prove to be fruitless against Fennec, and they try to make a hasty retreat. Unfortunately, in their retreat, Blood is ultimately murdered brutally by Fennec. Atheya, upon seeing his body after Fennec opens the door, decides that the only way for them to survive is to retreat. Corvus and Atheya are able to make their way out of the Villa and fly to safety. Almost immediately, Fennec announces the death of one of the members, doubles the remaining bounties, and orders the manhunt for the members inside the city.

The Guardians decide to meet at where the Hydra was killed to teleport home to safety. While running out, Diego agrees to Lexa doing surveillance in the city until they make their return. The group meets and immediately retreats to Gladesedge. The group mourns the loss of their friend but agrees that bringing him back is the right thing to do. Using their funds to hire a cleric Joric to perform the ritual. Atheya, Corvus, and Diego contribute to the ritual the best they can. Being just enough, a naked Blood appears. (missing out on becoming a cool art piece lol) Blood rejoins the group. The group proceeds to have a strategy meeting on what to do next: KILL FENNEC.

Begin Shopping Montage!!