Session 22 - 15 March 2025

Location: Belendar, Town Square and Underground Hideout
Date In-Game: Day 2 of Grand Tournament (approximately 6:00 PM)

Key Events

Shared Vision of The Bane

• All Bane Watchers (party + Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian) experienced simultaneous psychic vision after the joust
• Vision showed greenish haze, flashing images of combat, clanging weapons
• Voice commanded: "Thalas, fetch the vessel" and "Thalas, kill the king"
• All members took 14 points psychic damage (failed Wisdom saves below 15)
• Lady Odonia of Galantri received mysterious note from unknown source delivered by royal squire

Investigation Split

• Party split to investigate the vision's meaning:
  • Elik'r Stormswallow and Elvva Beltavar went to meet Elincia Flowers
  • Ser Tessell Highfrost and ToooAh went to Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade
  • Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian stayed at pavilion

Crown Princess Meeting (Ser Tessell Highfrost & ToooAh)

• Discussed the vision and threat to the king
• Princess doesn't know who Thalas is, but believes Thalas is a woman, not a man
• Princess suspects three individuals as potential conspirators:
  1. Elincia Flowers (known adversary)
  2. Emperor Vladier Drakonhart (Dragon Emperor)
  3. Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian (surprising inclusion)
• Princess revealed mercenaries bearing orange and blue colours entering the city (Alvar's conspiracy colours)
• Princess cryptically stated Lady Odonia of Galantri is "performing a task on my behalf" but refused to elaborate
• Princess immediately ordered 10 guards posted around the king, plus 5 specifically for the bird (ToooAh)
• Eldrin Oakenhart appeared when summoned

White Falcon Meeting (Elik'r Stormswallow & Elvva Beltavar)

• Met Elincia Flowers in town square at 6:00 PM
• Accompanied by mysterious cloaked man with ornate gold cane, expensive purple clothes with gold embroidery
• Man addressed White Falcon as "My Queen" before leaving
• Man disappeared mysteriously into crowd (not invisibility spell - different magic)
• White Falcon gave Elik'r Stormswallow a scroll with evidence pointing to Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade as Thalas
• White Falcon warned of imminent danger
• Elvva Beltavar disguised herself as Alarin Moonwhisper (Tessell's squire) for protection

Ambush in Town Square

• Multiple assassins attacked Elik'r Stormswallow and Elvva Beltavar in crowded square
• Elik'r Stormswallow's squire (unnamed) killed one attacker by "lamping him down" and stamping on his neck
• Guy (Elik'r's main squire) was stabbed in the back and mortally wounded
• Elvva Beltavar killed attackers with Sorcerous Burst (one headless) and fire breath
• Elik'r Stormswallow strangled and burned attacker alive with fire breath
• Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade and Ser Silvar Glinnan arrived as reinforcements
• Elvva Beltavar was killed - stabbed multiple times while unconscious, failed death saves
• Guy died from his wounds despite Elvva Beltavar's attempt to heal him with Cure Wounds potion
• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian executed combat combo: hammer strike on Elik'r Stormswallow's shield creating shockwave that killed surrounding enemies
• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian knocked Elik'r Stormswallow unconscious and carried him to tavern hideout

Ser Silvar's Mansion Burned

• Ser Tessell Highfrost and ToooAh discovered Ser Silvar Glinnan's mansion on fire
• Major-domo found in back garden, critically wounded with lacerations and glass embedded (jumped from window)
• ToooAh stabilized him with Cure Wounds
• Elvva Beltavar's squire caught up, relayed news of town square ambush
• Charred servant remains found inside mansion
• Ser Tessell Highfrost and ToooAh brought wounded major-domo to tavern hideout

Underground Hideout

• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian led survivors to secret tavern with trapdoor entrance
• Barman expected them and opened hidden basement
• Party regrouped in darkness underground
• Session ended with trapdoor closing above them

NPCs Encountered

Active This Session

• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian - Led defense, executed devastating hammer combo, knocked out and rescued Elik'r Stormswallow
• Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade - Met with Ser Tessell Highfrost/ToooAh, ordered royal guards deployed, fought in town square, executed prisoners by drowning
• Elincia Flowers - Met with Elik'r Stormswallow/Elvva Beltavar, provided evidence scroll, accompanied by mysterious man
• Silverleaf - Knight/guard who fought in town square as reinforcement (played by Paul).
• Eldrin Oakenhart - Briefly appeared when Princess summoned him
• Mysterious Cloaked Man - Purple robes with gold embroidery, ornate gold cane, called White Falcon "My Queen," disappeared via unknown magic (not invisibility)
• Tavern Barman - Knows Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian, operates secret hideout entrance
• Ser Silvar's Major-domo - Critically wounded, jumped from window during mansion attack, stabilized by ToooAh

Deceased This Session

• Guy (Elik'r's main squire) - Stabbed in back during ambush, died from wounds
• Elvva Beltavar - Killed by assassins in town square (3 failed death saves while unconscious)
• Multiple Assassins - Approximately 14+ killed in town square battle
• Ser Silvar's Servants - Charred remains found in burning mansion

Locations Visited

• Belendar - Jousting Arena Pavilions - Where vision occurred, party's temporary base
• Belendar - Royal Palace - Ser Tessell Highfrost and ToooAh met Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade
• Belendar - Town Square - Central fountain, ambush location, public execution site
• Ser Silvar Glinnan's Mansion - Burned down, servants killed
• Secret Tavern Hideout - Underground basement accessed via trapdoor behind bar

Quest Updates

Active Quests Updated

• Investigate Elincia Flowers (Thalas) - Status: Active

  • Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade believes Thalas is a woman
  • Elincia Flowers accuses Princess of being Thalas
  • Vision commanded: "Thalas, fetch the vessel" and "Thalas, kill the king"

• Prevent King's Assassination - Status: Active (URGENT - FAILED Session 23)

  • Vision warned of imminent attempt
  • Princess deployed 10 guards to king, 5 to ToooAh
  • Timeline unclear but described as "very soon"

• Identify "The Vessel" - Status: Active

  • Unknown if refers to Avicia or The Bane horn
  • Both parties (Princess and White Falcon) claimed ignorance

• Eagle vs Falcon Faction War - Status: Escalating

  • Open violence in streets
  • Coordinated attacks on party members
  • Mansion burned as tactical strike

New Information

• Orange and Blue Mercenaries - Ser Alvar Flowers's conspiracy forces infiltrating Belendar
• Mysterious Organization - White Falcon's companion ("My Queen") suggests larger conspiracy
• Lady Odonia of Galantri's Secret Mission - Working for Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade on undisclosed task

Combat Encounters

Town Square Ambush

Participants: Elik'r Stormswallow, Elvva Beltavar, 2 squires, Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian (late), Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade (late), Silverleaf (late)

Enemies: 14+ assassins with daggers

Casualties:

• Party Deaths: Elvva Beltavar, Guy (squire)
• Party Unconscious: Elik'r Stormswallow (knocked out by Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian to prevent him staying)
• Enemy Deaths: All assassins killed or executed

Key Moments:

• Elik'r Stormswallow's unnamed squire killed attacker with brutal stomp to neck
• Elvva Beltavar used Sorcerous Burst (decapitation) and fire breath
• Elik'r Stormswallow strangled and burned attacker alive
• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian's hammer-on-shield shockwave combo
• Elvva Beltavar revived with Greater Healing Potion (4d4+4 = 14 HP), then killed again moments later
• Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade drowned captured assassin in fountain

Notable: Civilians caught in crossfire, crowd panicked, festival atmosphere destroyed

Loot & Rewards

• Evidence Scroll - Given to Elik'r Stormswallow by Elincia Flowers, accuses Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade of being Thalas
• Mysterious Note - Delivered to Lady Odonia of Galantri by royal squire (contents unknown)
• Greater Healing Potion - Used on Elvva Beltavar (4d4+4 = 14 HP restored)

Memorable Moments

Session 22 - Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian & Elik'r Stormswallow - Executed devastating Captain America-style combo where Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian slammed his hammer on Elik'r Stormswallow's shield, creating a shockwave that knocked all surrounding enemies away. The impact also knocked Elik'r Stormswallow himself back 9 points of damage.

Session 22 - Elvva Beltavar - Died heroically in town square after being revived once with a Greater Healing Potion (restored to full health), only to be stabbed multiple times while unconscious and fail all death saves. Her last conscious words: "I can take it."

Session 22 - Elik'r Stormswallow - Strangled an assassin, lifted him up, stared into his eyes to watch the fear occur, then breathed fire directly into his face while holding him aloft. Dropped the burning corpse casually.

Session 22 - Party (Planning) - Spent extended time debating what to do after the vision, with multiple false starts about going to feast vs investigating. Eventually split up despite "number one rule of D&D: always split the party."

Session 22 - ToooAh - Changed her magical armour into a random summery dress with individually colored flowers (green, purple, gold, blue) plus wings before meeting the Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade, explaining "You can't have the same outfit twice when meeting the Princess."

Session 22 - Mysterious Cloaked Man - Addressed Elincia Flowers as "My Queen" before disappearing into the crowd using unknown magic that even Elvva Beltavar (as experienced sorcerer) couldn't identify as any known invisibility spell.

Session 22 - Elik'r Stormswallow's Squire - Proved his worth by spotting assassin, "lamping him down," then stomping on the attacker's head/neck to finish him while his master was being attacked from another angle.

Session 22 - Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade - Casually executed captured assassin by drowning him in the town square fountain after the battle, demonstrating ruthless efficiency.

Next Session

Cliffhanger

• Party split between underground hideout (survivors) and unknown location (Lady Odonia of Galantri)
• Elvva Beltavar and Guy are dead
• King's assassination attempt timing unknown
• Feast scheduled but party in hiding
• Lady Odonia of Galantri's location and secret mission unknown

To Investigate

• Contents of evidence scroll accusing Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade
• Identity of mysterious "My Queen" man with Elincia Flowers
• Lady Odonia of Galantri's secret task for the Princess
• Who ordered the coordinated attacks (mansion burning + town square ambush)
• True identity of Thalas - woman per Princess, or is Princess herself Thalas?
• Meaning of "the vessel" - Avicia or The Bane horn?
• Orange and blue mercenaries infiltrating city
• Why mansion was specifically targeted

NPCs to Follow Up

• Lady Odonia of Galantri - Where is she? What is her secret mission?
• Avicia - Potential target as "the vessel"
• Ser Silvar's Major-domo - Can provide information about mansion attack when conscious
• Elincia Flowers - Who is her mysterious companion?
• Crown Princess Eilrora Everglade - Is she truly Thalas?

Immediate Concerns

• Resurrection options for Elvva Beltavar?
• Where to keep party safe until assassination prevented
• How to attend feast (if at all) without being targets
• Informing Guy's family
• Tournament Day 2 semifinals - ToooAh vs Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian, Lady Odonia of Galantri vs unknown

DM Notes

Character Deaths

• Elvva Beltavar - Permanent death (3 failed death saves while unconscious)
• Guy - Elik'r's primary squire, killed in ambush
• Party now significantly weakened, main DPS dead

Disguise Self

• Elvva Beltavar cast Disguise Self as Alarin Moonwhisper but it wore off during 6-second combat rounds
• Concentration would have broken on first hit anyway

Magic Inconsistencies

• Mysterious man's disappearance described as non-magical by Elvva Beltavar's Detect Magic, yet he vanished
• Suggests either very powerful magic or different type of supernatural ability

Tactical Notes

• Party split successfully baited into separate ambush locations
• Coordinated attack: mansion fire + town square assassination attempt
• Orange/blue mercenaries likely orchestrating multiple simultaneous strikes
• Co'narr 'Banewatcher' Hyborian's intervention saved Elik'r Stormswallow's life by forcibly removing him

Timeline Pressure

• Feast approaching (7:00 PM)
• King's assassination "very soon"
• Tournament Day 2 semifinals still scheduled
• Party members scattered and in hiding

Political Situation

• Both factions (Eagle and Falcon) accuse each other of being Thalas
• Evidence exists on both sides
• Truth remains unclear - could be misdirection from actual Thalas
• Lady Odonia of Galantri working secretly for Princess adds complication

Session Pacing

• First ~hour: Vision aftermath and planning/debate
• Middle: Parallel investigation meetings
• Final hour: Combat and deaths
• Very dramatic ending with trapdoor closing on wounded survivors