Session 59 (4 April 2018)

Note to readers: This is a session re-cap of an ongoing D&D 5th edition campaign set in a loosely adapted version of N. Robin Crossby's Hârn. A journal of sessions 1 through 54, beginning in February 2015, can be found here.

In-world dates: 5 Ilvin 720 TR [first week of winter]
Moon: waxing crescent (full moon in 9 days)

It's another crisp, bitterly cold winter day in this land. At least the sun is shining. This doesn't please Fangstench who, though blind, seems distressed by the feel of the sun's rays. You locate another exit from the den and deposit him in the shade of its opening along with a supplied of goodberries and rations, then bid him adieu, uncertain what fate awaits him.

Trudging back toward the human village you'd passed earlier, you cross the battle plain, still strewn with the fallen. Just as you approach the forest edge (see regional map), Dracul's eagle eyes spot a shape in the sky. A bird? A dragon? No—a great three-masted ship! From the cover of the trees you watch it glide silently overhead, apparently heading toward Elvanna's tower. It seems to be about 150 feet in length and very broad in beam.

Leng skyship

Cade shapechanges into a giant raven and, with the party made invisible by Gil'Doren, quickly bears Dracul, Gil'Doren, and Juan skyward in turn and deposits them near the main mast, amidships, on the upper deck of the ship. The only creatures you see are nine robed humanoids—the eerie tentacle-fingered beings from Leng you encountered in the Frost Giants' lair. Five are on the quarterdeck, while four others are clustered near the bow.

While Cade flies invisibly alongside, Juan sneaks down into the vessel's hold and explores the bales, barrels, and boxes of goods therein. He finds exotic textiles, a strange grey ash, and an unknown gelatinous substance. He also notes that much of the hold is devoted to metal cages, apparently designed to hold humanoid creatures. You recall that these creatures were rumoured to be slavers...

Elvanna's tower
Artist: Marc Simonetti

The ship glides to a halt near the apex of the tower and guards from the latter quickly lower a broad gangplank of sorts. A gaggle of frightened peasants is prodded into action: their job, it seems, is to unload cargo. Down into the hold they go, back up onto deck bearing their burden, across the gangplank and down narrow circular stairs into the tower. Juan follows and trips one of them, causing a commotion. Now visible, he grabs the dropped item and insinuates himself into the line of stevedores—unnoticed, for the moment.

Meanwhile, Stiepan the crow, perched on Cade's shoulders, has been cawing excitedly: he recognizes many of his friends from the raven aerie in the tower (situated one level below the apex). They call back, alerting the rookery master: she gazes suspiciously out. Still invisible, Cade opens a few of the cage doors and knocks others over. The commotion spreads!

On the ship, something arouses the suspicion of one of the Lengese. It descends from the quarterdeck and begins slowly moving along the length of the ship, its masked face scanning back and forth as if looking for something. Dracul and Gil'Doren can almost feel magical tentacles probing their thoughts...  and their thoughts are of escape! Cade swoops in and carries Gil'Doren over to the tower, then veers back to retrieve Dracul.

The Lengese who was investigating the ship turns abruptly and shouts something to its fellows. In turn, the human guard captain barks an order. Near Gil'Doren, a guard raises a horn to his lips—and is suddenly interrupted when an unusually tall Elf materializes from thin air and cleaves the horn in twain with a pair of swords!

It looks like all hell is about to break loose...