Campaign Journal: Smoke on the Horizon

Who's looking over the wreckage of Madrual?

• Jax: Barbarian
• Fred: Thief
• Slick: More Thief

The party sorted through the loot of recovered from the Chaos troops as well as found in the basilisk's lair. No, that Broom of Flying is not going to be used for excessive mischief.

As always, capturing a place is not the same as holding it. As The Librarian Grancet and his crew got to work, Benedikt sent Gerhard back out to summon more city troops. Restoring the Lens would take time, as the original mount had been destroyed by the Chaos crew or other squatters. Fortunately, a second statue worthy of the job had been found buried in the bottom level of the complex, and the team got to work excavating it and dragging it up the stairs.

With no flying blanket, Bendikt decided that magic transportation was beneath him, anyhow. A whistle, and some time later, a horse manifested itself, in full tack.

That's more like it

The meager surviving troops go to work re-erecting fortifications, and the party used their signal devices to send word down the fortification line. Attacks and skirmishes were reported, particularly from flying beasts. But things were holding. Word came that some local militias were mustering north, as well as a force from Lake Cobalt. 

In the meantime, three battered elves arrived at the fort, the remains of a party sent to investigate the rumor of a dragon in the Deneng Mountains to the northwest. Well, they found no dragon. Its lair was vacant, and loot mostly stripped. They had found Chaos, and one elf showed the results of said meeting in a tentacle mutation ("Still getting the hang of it."). The missing dragon and its loot was curious and a concern, especially with the proximity to mountain passes where the Chaos forces allegedly manifested. Anyway, the elves were welcomed to heal and rest, and reinforce the current detachment if willing.

Now, the big question. Do we keep pushing the Barrier north? Gaerborin Keep was the next north, but well-invested with an Acrorian force. 

The hardpoint was a known location for Acroria's own lens network, and had been in the city's hand for some time. Were the troops still loyal with the conflicting news from Acroria? Do we go with force or diplomacy? Well, we have few troops. Not to mention the lack of spellcasters/OP halflings... 

Maybe probe them, see where their loyalty lies? We know they will have both troops and priests. Do you think that the Paragons of the Comet might help? They are on the outs with the city and scattered. Can't hurt to ask, at least they know the religion. A message to Serafina Rissalen back near Neuforde. Slow relays back, but there may be a few in hiding along the West Trade Road. The party rode out to the town of Axwold, and surreptitiously asked around of the few remaining beguines who hadn't moved south. There might be a couple outside of town, we've met them. Off to the woods to find the pair.

Cozy

Brytha and Leane, Sisters of the Paragons of the Comet, were located, and given a passcode supplied by Serafina. The situation was explained, and Leane rode south to find other stragglers and join Serafina, while Brytha joined the party. She hid her insignia as the group scouted the fortification and its patrols as best they could. 

Slick tried out his new Broom of Flying. Because an invisible, giggling thief is a wonderful scout. A survey of fortifications and defenses was made. Defenses were well organized, and a few unknown weapons were visible. Best be cautious. Knowing that troops from Acroria had been commanded south for an unknown reason, a plot was hatched to recall some of the fort's troops back to he city as reinforcements.

"Do they have carrier pigeons?" Of course they do.

Pigeons were liberated from their coop by one invisible flying thief. The party attempted to forge a command and send it to the fort. The command was met with proper suspicion, and a pigeon sent back to Acroria. Damnit. Now to wait for it to return... The returning pigeon was intercepted successfully. Now the party had a correct seal and other proofs of authenticity to forge. Rework the message to confirm the command, and release pigeon.

The fortress' commander read the new command, and sent about half the requested troops back. He still wasn't fully on board with the ruse...

Time to make nice.

The party rode out, meeting an Acroria patrol (Except Slick, keeping a silent, invisible watch near the battlements). The leader hailed and challenged them. Some exchange, and the patrol leader (Albert Mas) recognized the party from the military ball shenanigans, as well as their friendship with Petre Gagua of the doomed expeditionary patrol. They rode back toward the keep, and the patrol leader departed to summon his commander. 

Mas returned with Manchin Ceret, military commander of the stronghold. He listened to the party's entreaties for access to the tower and incorporation of their lens. He was understandably cautious with an officer of the opposing city and an apparent Paragon among the group. Ceret confided that the leadership had seemed inconsistent over the last few months, and that going alone against this threat was unwise. Although skeptical, he listened to the party describe their efforts in rebuilding the watch network and gathering allies.

Slick, on the parapet watched a guard eavesdropping on the conversation with a large ear horn, before disappearing and returning with an obvious cleric of Khador. The cleric listened for a few minutes before shoving a guard aside and unlimbering one of the mystery weapons. 

Greek fire, bitches!

Thankfully, said cleric was not adept with the weapon, and the gouts of liquid fire went wide. Slick took the initiative to shank said cleric with his black blade, wounding him sufficiently, before warding off other guards using the cleric as hostage. The cleric secured, the party and soldiers entered the keep to continue their negotiations.

Another call from the watch, and a pair of riders on frothing horses were seen from the east.

"Acroria is burning!"

I Bring you Fire

DM Notes:

Well now, that's a development. It's been in the works.