By: Keith "Harkel" Palmer-Poirier
Greetings individuals of the Realms.
For those that were unable to journey to Rathkeale in an attempt to stop the efforts of Sir Edwyn Raincourt and his undead generals from the old Knights of the Aberrant Gate, I have prepared an after action report to aid in your awareness of the situation. I have also included a record of the spring festivities many of us enjoyed in Voraniss the evening before.
Friday Night:
The night in Voraniss was a pleasant one, with many arriving including one who insists on being called Traveller (though that is not their name) bringing seven ships despite living in the woods. The night featured many entertaining activities, such as games like fairy ring toss, and tossing the cookies into the milk as well as a tournament of ‘Don’t Touch Mogar’s Hog’, a game where a hog is protected by one individual as groups were called into the ring in an attempt to snatch it away. The winner of the activity specifically was one Baron Diamond. Additionally, Cinnamon’s tea trove provided good drinks for those involved in the festivities, alongside Voraniss’ traditional spring ritual of renewal; a ritual centered on the return of life, letting go of the past, dark months of winter, and setting oneself up for growth in the new year.
In addition to this, the evening saw Margaret (Bri) ascend to the new position of Raven Caller within Voraniss, a position which is made to assist in communications, court heralding, and record keeping for Voraniss (and also one that Bri was noted to have already been doing before the creation of such a role).
After Action Report:
Saturday:
The battle within Rathkeale began before we even reached its shores, with the waters infested by both sharks and pirates. In addition to these hostile forces, Rathkeale had a barrier preventing entry until it was able to be brought down by disabling pylons across the expanse of water. Once that was taken care of, the assembled adventurers and our accompanying army moved ashore to take stock of the situation.
After deliberation, we left commands for our troops to aid in the defense of Rathkeale while we adventurers split into two parties. One left to save prisoners and hold down a supply route into Rathkeale featuring a large bridge. The other group besieged a castle to recover many vital members of Rathkeale.
Those of us doing battle on the bridge pushed a group of undead back and we were forced to fix damage to the structure as we went. Following this battle, we continued on into the forest beyond. While half of the prisoners we set out to save were recovered, the other half unfortunately perished prior to our arrival.
Meanwhile, the team attacking the castle managed to blow a hole in the side of the castle after a great deal of difficulty attempting to breach through the front door. From there, with the help of some explosives, they were able to rush in and kill the majority of the undead forces present before rescuing the members of Rathkeale who had been trapped inside - including the Portalmaster.
In preparation for the encounter with Dame Gloriana Stanwode (one of the old Knights of the Aberrant Gate who was attacking Rathkeale) the group which breached the castle also attended a tavern party in a building with undead, from which they managed to obtain a potion able to protect our undead forces from the influences of the hostile undead generals.
Following a ritual which split Gloriana into multiple aspects, we managed to force the aspects back together before forcing Gloriana into a ritual sigil, containing and then banishing her. Finally, we summoned the ghost of her sister and members of various orders, including Lord Sir Elwyn as the Knight Commander of the Knights of the Sable Dragon, Ser Fern Eberhardt as Knight Commander of the Knights of the Aberrant Gate, Magus Prime Swift as Magus Prime of the Magi of the Realms, and Sir Rosetta of the Knights of the Red Branch were able to break her sister’s chains, killing Dame Gloriana Stanwode.
Sunday:
Following the death of Dame Stanwode, the remainder of the party moved in to free the spirit of Dame Miriel Castillion, an old Knight of the Aberrant Gate who had yet to be raised against us. By the time the team arrived at the crypt, Dame Carrion was in the process of attempting to sacrifice Karrai (the grand Vizier of Stonewood) and raise Dame Castillion against us. Through fighting Carrion’s forces we were able to bypass her defenses, and got to her just in time for her to escape. Dame Castillion was then put to rest in a ritual witnessed by Saint Wilmot and the original squires of the Aberrant Gate in a ceremony led by Squire Tony Warder of the new Knights of the Aberrant Gate.
Across these days of battle in Rathkeale, we, as adventurers of the Realms, managed to kill one of Edwyn’s generals. We stopped him from gaining a new one. Just as important, we prevented his forces from overrunning Rathkeale.
That is all,
Harkel