Session 45 - Devastation

15/06/300 (mid-evening)

The party, having feasted and drank with the giants, were given leave to explore Kartash's camp. They covered the ground between the giants and the Cabal's camp. Ruric Ironfoot paused to conduct a ritual so that he could detect magic. He discovered waves of energy cascading out of Kartash's main tent. The discussed what to do but, before they could retreat back to the giants, Demelza stepped out of the tent and gave battle. She called on her wraiths and zombies to attack. Battle ensured with Elnorin becoming a bear to fight zombies whilst Braith and Bankanir fired arrows into the fray. Heskan and Ruric formed the front line with Heskan fighting Demelza directly. Eventually they slew them all before deciding to investigate further.

Inside the tent they found an orium stone, like the ones from the clearing, charged with necrotic power. Pinned to it with adamantine spikes were three mercenaries with vials of Summer's Draught being drip-fed into them. 6 more zombies stood here. A second battle was joined, including a turned sword wraith rejoining the fight. This battle proved much more dangerous. Ruric dropped several times whereas Heskan and Braith both nearly died along with Bankanir.  Through the fight they rescued the three sacrifices.

Eventually they won out and pulled back to a safe distance. After determining that this was going to create a vast wave of necrotic power, the party fled and warned the giants. Together the group ran for hours until, near midnight, the stone released it's energy.....destroying all life in a radius just over a mile around the stone. The party and the giants stood in muted horror at the sight. Oddlief order a crude camp made. Savina tracked the group down and sat down in shock. During the night, once Elnorin and Ruric woke, Oddlief stated that she would take her people north. She feared the people south of the mountains were dangerous, playing with powers beyond their understanding. 

16/06/300

In the morning, after collecting their things from the blackened and ravaged camp, the groups parted ways The giants agreed to destroy the orium ritual stones if they found them. The rest of the group made to leave whilst Elnorin conducted a long ceremony to bring life back to at lease some of the area. He catches up with the group that night.

17/06/300

That evening they reach the enclave. Irthosrach is quick to summon them. With Irthosrach sat her family (Tyrangal and her daughters). She asked for a retelling of the devastation, which Heskan gave. Once this is done, she passed on gifts as thanks for saving her people;

• Fail-not, a bow that belonged to Findabair, for Braith 
• A book of maccan construction for Elnorin
• The location of Toirneach and his belt for Heskan
• An agreement that Ruric would be able to sup from the mead of knowledge, should the group desperately need it.

Irthosrach stated that her followers had requisitioned a boat from a nearby town and that they had persuaded some local manticores to carry the group there. 

18/06/300 

Sleeping draughts were given to the animals and a flying platform was used to carry the ill soldiers with the animals as they landed that night outside the town. The group made camp and slept for the night.

19/06/300

The day dawns