Session Date 5 June 2026
Scribe Kris and Stuart
Location: The Unnamed Tavern
Valecar Date: Goldwane 10th, 701 AC (Ascendant Cycle)
Session Table of Contents
We departed the city after 10 days of festivities and shaking hands and being exposed in more ways than we have in our entire lives. We made our way west first to make it seem to any prying eyes that we were headed toward the Sunfall Expanse Monolith. After several hours and no sign of our travels being tracked, we cut back southeast toward the Crownwood Expanse Monolith.
We encountered a stuck horse drawn wagon with a young boy and an elderly man trying to get it unstuck. It turned out to be an ambush to which we dispatched the bandits easily. We discovered these bandits were likely associated with the Thornveil Reapers. Some of our party members, especially Esmira, were skeptical of the old man and his son...figuring they might be part of the ruse.
It was revealed that the old man was in fact part of the ruse, but it was not by choice. He stated there is a major Thornveil Reaper camp not far from here where his wife is held captive.
The party had camped on the road following the ambush. Turok spent time burying the Reapers that had attacked us. Targoth caught up to the group today and was apprised of our options. There was discussion about rescuing the wife of the old man that had been used to lead us into the ambush.
The group voted and decided to pursue the bandits that had escaped to the east through the forest. Targoth picked up the trail and the group headed out taking our time so as not to be ambushed again. After approximately an hour's travel east we caught sight of their camp.
The Reapers had a somewhat spartan, militaristic base camp set up in a cleft in a high stone ridge. The notch was about a hundred or so feet wide and nearly as deep. A cave entrance was spotted at the rear. It looked as though 15 to 20 well-armed people were moving about within the camp. A sentry could be seen on a wall set up near the entrance to the notch. A couple of other foot-patrol guards could be seen within. The trees that were all across the approach to this notch were covered in the tattooed skins of previous Ascendants. Possibly a warning not to approach or more likely trophies of their success in taking down earlier Ascendants.
The group voted again and it was decided to watch and learn as much as we could from these Reapers before we attempted any form of assault. A man came out of the cave and assembled all personnel within the camp. He had a somewhat noble bearing and was clearly in charge. Shortly after his speech a group of 15 Reapers formed up and headed out west back in the direction from which we had come. Our party hid until they had passed. Then it was decided that Merric would slip inside the camp to see how many remained. After a brief recon all the way to the mouth of the cave and back he returned and relayed what he had seen within the camp. Only 6 defenders remained plus the "nobleman" and an older woman. She appeared to be either his wife or maid. In addition, the "nobleman" was actually an elf and was dressed more like a druid than an actual city-dwelling noble person.
The party crept forward to within bow range of the outer-most defenders and took up positions behind trees. Merric slipped forward again but this time he was spotted. After a snap bowshot at the sentry on the wall Merric darted away and led two of the foot soldiers right into Esmira and Bulger. The wall sentry survived the bow shot from Merric but he and the other two foot soldiers were taken down almost instantly by the rest of the party.
The three remaining defenders attempted to surrender. But Targoth and Turok were both ready and anxious for a little payback. A dwarven defender was taken down, though he narrowly lived, before the hostilities came to a pause.
The "nobleman/druid" stepped out of the cave and calmly asked for a parlay. Our party warily agreed and met him at the central campfire. He casually healed all of the wounds on the dwarven defender before he began the parley.
He introduced himself to us as Vaelis Thorne and said he was the leader of the Thorn Veil (whom we know as Thornveil Reapers). He told us we had been duped by the Grand Vizier Taezyth and were being used to destroy the Monoliths which were actually created to protect the land. Turok wasn't buying what he was selling and attempted a round-house attack. But, in mid-strike, Vaelis Thorne halted the attack with some sort of vine ward and then affirmed we had the protection of his sanctuary if we would hear him out. Again, warily, we listened to his version of things.
In the end, without being able to confirm many of his "facts", he insisted the Grand Vizier was bad and his intentions were good. Merric pointed out to him that brutally slaying, butchering and displaying the previous un-witting dupes of the Grand Vizier was not a very good thing to do. Apparently, this wood elf believes the end justifies the means.
An agreement was made between the Party and Valus Thorne That hence-forward our party would not be attacked but the Torn Veil and we would look into the Monoliths with an open mind. And, should we fail, the next group of Ascendants would be parlayed with rather than ambushed and slain. Vaelis Thorn also offered us each an individual gift to help us in the upcoming days. We ended our second day as guests in their camp with plans to leave tomorrow morning.
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Turok - Ghost Charm - 1 use, action, you become ghostly for up to 1 minute. While ghostly you are incorporeal, immune to all nonmagical damage, unable to attack or cast spells, capable of moving through solid objects, and have a fly speed of 60 ft. You can end the ghostly state early as an action. If you end it inside an object or creature you will have a bad time.
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Esmira- Charm of the bear's claw- 2 uses, lasts for 1 hour, can climb on walls and ceilings at full speed, gives advantage on strength checks
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Targoth - Bear’s Hide Charm - 1 use, bonus action, gain resistance to all damage for 1 minute
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Merric - Monster Charm - 2 uses, action, you transform your appearance to that of a horrible monster, all creatures of your choice within 15 ft of you must make a DC 15 wis save or become frightened of you for 1 minute, a frightened creature can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns
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Bulger Cuttlefish - Bear's Femur Charm - 1 use, bonus action, you push the button on this bear femur , and it becomes immovable for 1 hour. During this time, no force can move it from its position, and only a Disintegration spell can destroy it.
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Turok - gained the 1 wisdom crown from the Vaelis Thorne