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Session 8: Ash-Melin

The companions continued their journey to Ash-Melin to meet with Albaran Delhomme. Hiring on as caravan guards until they entered the country of Leonay. Their journey was uneventful until an evening three days north of Ash-Melin.

Just as the sun descended below the horizon, the group was sitting around the fire quietly enjoying a meal when they heard a roar in the vicinity. It didn’t sound like the roar from an animal or a monster, but just a general loud sound. Grafton realized that he had heard a similar sound in his childhood, bats. When a flock of bats leaves their caves in the evening the cumulative flapping of their wings creates a dull roar. Figuring that it was nothing to be alarmed about the group settled back to their meal. The sound got louder and sounded as if it were heading towards them. When the black cloud of bats passed the tree line, the group noticed several large shapes heading right for them. The cloud of small bats started to dissipate as the flying rodents split up to find their meals. However their large cousins though they had found their meal, sitting around the fire.

The group braced themselves for the dire bats flying charge. The bats flew in and attacked viciously. Valamir fell before he was able to mount an effective defense. The dire bats initial attack was devastating, but the tide quickly turned towards the companions. After a hard-fought battle the companions won the day, and were able to heal Valamir to the point where he could walk, even though he was weak from his injuries.

Three days later, the characters entered the seaside town of Ash-Melin. Ash-Melin is situated on the edge of a swamp and is built on wooden piers that jut out into the tidal waters. The buildings are built on posts driven into the ground beneath the water. As the group entered they asked for directions to a nice inn. They were pointed towards the Starboard Lights, a posh inn and tavern on the longest pier. As they made their way towards the Starboard Lights, Grafton asked a local if he knew any information about Albaran Delhomme. The man said he didn’t, so the group continued to the inn.

Once in the Lights, the group rented rooms for the night, bathed, and ate a good meal to help them forget about their months on the road. Jelana asked the innkeeper if he knew anything about Albaran, and he was told that she was a quiet woman that lives in the north part of the town. She’s known to be a necromancer, but she keeps to herself and doesn’t cause any trouble.

The following morning the group went to Albaran’s house, and knocked on the door. The neighbor came out and told the group that she was out of town so the group left their names with the neighbor and went to the Starboard Lights to wait for the necromancer to come calling. Grafton left the town to scout the surrounding area and to get the lay of the land. The three elves stayed in the Starboard Lights and just after dusk a distinguished, older woman entered the inn, asked the innkeeper something and he pointed her to the table where the elves were sitting.

The woman came over to the table and introduced herself as Albaran Delhomme. She asked why they were looking for her and when they answered that they were trying to find Falon Gareth, her calm façade nearly broke into laughter. The group told her the rest of the story, about Darklife possible not being in Falon’s hands any longer, and about how the group is just trying to solve the mystery of the sister’s parent’s slaughter. Albaran told them that she could give them some more information, but they would have to do something for her. She asked them to meet her at her home in the evening of the following day to discuss the arrangements.

The following day, the group met with Albaran for tea. She told them that she would tell them the location of Falon Gareth’s private sanctum if they would go into the swamp and return with the body of a spellstiched wight (dead or alive) that she had heard had taken up residence in some ruins a couple days into the swamp. The group agreed, even though they have no real idea what a spellstiched wight is.

The following day was spent gathering information and supplies for their trek.

Grafton went straight to the church of Rendolar, figuring that the church of life would know how to destroy the undead. When he announced his intentions, the priests seemed really interested in the mission. They even offered to send a deadbane priest with the group to act as a guide and aid them with healing. Figuring that they would need a guide anyways, Grafton accepted. He also gathered a couple of silver maces and some vials of holy water.

Jelana went to see Linus Helmsley, a local sage. Linus was able to give her information about what a spellstiched wight is and what its capabilities are. Jelana left Linus’ shop with a healthy respect for their mission.

The other two replenished their supplies.

The following morning, the companions entered the swamp…

Next: Into The Swamp (2)