The party were asked
by Clifton to investigate a delayed cargo and a curious message concerning “The
Elect” from Ealanor Pathsteader, one of his old adventuring friends now living
in in Stormpoint. As Putterick and Tomaasi had invested in the cargo, they
agree to go and investigate.
Lord Norvaire,
busy with the affairs of state (literally, as he attempts to “get close” to
Marlae Roesone) sends one of his retainers, Goraval Methuar (Brian D.) an elven
bard, to accompany his friends. Andrellea, also remains in Roesone to supervise
the construction of a temple to the Lady Avanalae, and the party were joined by
an elf sorcerer Aíne (Jill G).
As they depart
they notice that the weather is unseasonably cold, although Erunst, used to
late springs shrugs it off as the complaints of soft southerners.As the party
head westwards, the weather gradually worsens, and by the time they reach
Stormpoint, it is as though winter has returned in full fury.
On asking for
Eleanor, they discover she has not been seen for days, there are rumours of
strange disappearances, and also rumours of a strange monster prowling the city
that the guard seem powerless to stop. Asking around they also discover that
“The Elect” is a cult that seems to be gaining ground among the slum dwellers
in the city.
While Paul
investigates stories of a beast prowling the street, the rest of the party
begin investigating the Elect. They attend a meeting and are initially swayed
by the cult’s charismatic leader. Eventually realising they have been charmed
in some way they investigate his house to discover it largely abandoned
confronting him, he flees using arcane means, however the party finds evidence
linking him to the thieves guild.
Paul meanwhile
has discovered the beast apparently lairs in the city sewers and enlisting the
others help tracks the strange beast to its lair and slays it. In the lair they
find a strange slab of black stone inlaid with glowing patterns.
The party
attempt to report their findings to the Guard, however the Captain reacts by
ordering his men to kill them! In the ensuing struggle the captain and Erunst
is slain and Goraval and Tomassi are taken into custody. Paul as a paladin
of Haelyn stands bail for his
imprisoned comrades and secures their release.
The party was
temporarily joined by Grandass
Ironhelm (Keith T) a dwarf fighter, and they follow the trail to a warehouse by
the docks. The warehouse is carefully guarded but after fighting their way in
the party discover that the thieves have been killing people and removing their
brains – presumably for some foul arcane experiments, they also find the trail
leads back to the sewers. Descending into the sewers the party find a hidden
lower level, populated by hideous tentacle-faced monsters. Confronting the
Illithid leader Paul and Putterick fall in battle.
The rest of the
part manage to slay the monster and rescue Eleanor. At the temple next day the
party arrange for Paul and Erunst to be raised and Eleanor tells them of a dream
she had concerning the monsters in the sewers whom she refers to as
mind-flayers. In her dream a man called Strom imprinted her with a device – a
psionic seal - which drove her to investigate the sewers.
Eleanor, being
to weak to go on, passes the burden of the Psionic Seal on to Putterick.