The Hunt for Absalom

About the Saga

Timeframe

• Greyhawk Date: Ready'reat 24, CY 591
• Real World Date: 2008-08-15
• Read other Dark City Sagas

Cast of Characters

• Kerth Greenfield, human divine servant of Pelor
• Thom Silverbow, half-elf bard extraordinaire
• Sir Krovacar Fawkes, human paladin of Wee Jas
• Corash, elven wizard searching for lost secrets
• Gruffudd Castlemaine, half-elf paladin of Lendor
• Largo Leftpocket, Hero of the Couriers

Notable Quotes

• “I’m an NPC now. No one wants to hang out with me anymore…” Prug the NPC
• “I’m a mage, I study creatures.” “well, what do you know about this stuff?” “Nothing.” Corash to one of Stony's questions about the monstrous lobster claw.
• “I was hoping that this is the day the world ends.” “I hope not, I have things to do today.” Corash in response to Trondholm.

What Has Come Before

The group was able to fight find and seal another foci in Butchers End. Now they search for their missing companion Absalom, who may have information on the group thought to be creating the foci, the Undreamers.

• Read the previous saga

The Saga

Ready'reat 24, CY 591

Corash spends a few weeks creating scrolls.

Silver Flame Meeting

Sir Fawkes and Gruffudd talk with Promethean Steelbrand. He has discovered the Silver Discs of Elaran, ancient discs scribed by an aquatic elf who's tribe did battle with the odd half-human, half-fish followers of Ylerys long ago. They defeated the cult, and slew the demon, sealing its body in five urns. They buried these urns in the undersea ruins of the demon's temple.

The Discs close with a warning that the seals will not last for all time, and that a handful of cultists fled during the final battle. He is willing to bankroll an expedition to the underwater temple.

Petitions

Meanwhile Largo makes a formal complaint to the Council of Guilds office of grievances in the Great Hall. Largo talks to Administrator Anderson. The administrator informs Largo that he will need a Councilman to sponsor his petition. Largo asks for a list. The administrator tells him there is a 5 gp fee and 48 hour wait. Largo tries to find a place to find the list himself, but the administrator gets fed up with the Halfling.

Maidens

Kerth talks to Shadora Brelwen of the Maidens of the Shield. She informs him the Followers of the Earth Dragon have begun to call their compound the Dragon Ward. Kerth is concerned.

Kerth than speaks with Shadora about the Undreamers. She reveals to him that Mayaheine granted her a vision: a darkness comes. Two clues:

• four sickly green growing eyes
• alien threat

He then proposes his plan to gather the various groups who patrol the Mudsitters District. The plan is to allow for better flow of information to combat future threats to that district. Shadora agrees it is a worthwhile act and commits the support of the Maidens.

Finally, Kerth asks if the maidens have seen Absolom. Shadora informs him he was last seen hanging around the Sunken Hammer Guild, the Stone Goblin Inn, and escorting noblemen; but its been almost a month.

Thrice Risen

Gruffudd goes to talk with Prug. Asks about Absalom. Has not seen Absolom, but has seen the dog running around the Mudsitters District. He did not have time to chase dogs though.

“I’m an NPC now. No one wants to hang out with me anymore…” Prug the NPC

Sponsor

Largo asks the receptionist at the council of guilds where he can get a list of councilmen. She snarkily informs him it will be at the Library of Obsidian Bay. Decides to find some muscle if he’s going to be traveling the city.

At the library, he finds all the major guilds have representatives. Largo sets up a meeting with the leader of the Invincibles Guild in two days. He talks to the seneschal about why. The seneschal does not believe the halfling's story about the Messengers Guild killing people.

Robster Craw

Stony George and Corash talk about the monstrous lobster claw, and finding Absalom. Stony suggests talking to some of the water related guilds about the fish cult. Decide to go to the Church of Procan. But first they'll talk with Corash's master Maurgiir about the claw.

“I’m a mage, I study creatures.” “well, what do you know about this stuff?” “Nothing.” Corash to one of Stony's questions about the monstrous lobster claw.

At the The Black Quill Corash finally tells his master about the lobster claw he’s been holding on to for the past few weeks. Maurgiir scolds Corash for holding secrets. Corahs confusingly informs his master he had just not gotten around to it. Corash also informs his master that he’s begun having dreams about the far realms. Maurgiir tells Corash that this is so he can better locate and destroy the far realm incursions. Stony George is a bit uneasy with all this information. Corash explains his new magic to Stony as they make their way to the docks.

At the Temple of Procan, Obsidian Bay, Stony and Corash meet with Trondholm. The priest asks if the claw was from a lobster-man, but Corash informs him not. Stony asks him about Ylerys, and he insists they’ll need a drink.

“I was hoping that this is the day the world ends.” “I hope not, I have things to do today.” Corash in response to Trondholm.

They head to Keel Over Tavern, an inverted boat. The priest rumbles about the end of the world. Talks about a portal at the bottom of the azure sea. Goes to the plane of water. He drinks bottle after bottle of whiskey. Says Ylerys is the herald of Dagon, from an endless sea of madness. The servents must be killed to stop Dagon’s return to this world. To find them, find fish people. His servents are mutated into these fish people. Trondholm is the assistant to the high priest. The High priest out swimming, and won’t be back for 6 days.

Library

Gruffudd and Fawkes enter the library. Talk to Quidwig a reference librarian and expert about Obsidian Bay’s history. They ask him to look for any cults about sea things, or fish in reference to Obsidian Bay. He can find none, so they ask about cults of madness. He informs them that what they are looking for is not there persay, but it could have something to do with Illithids or aboliths. Fawkes also asks about the symbol Corash now bares on his hand. Quidwig informs him that the symbol is one channeling madness.

The Sun Shines

Kerth reports in with Sir Peldonius Trueshield. Sir Peldonius complements Kerth on the leadership he is showing in the city. He then invites Kerth to join the Watchers of the Dawn. Kerth thanks Sir Peldonius, and asks for time to consider the offer. In the meantime, he dispatches 5 Watch members to aid Kerth. He also agrees to Kerth’s organization proposal. He will also ask the pelorites if they’ve seen Absalom.

Tom’s Contacts

Party meets up at Fire-eaters Inn. Tom informs the party he won’t actually be able to talk to his former professor now peer in the Amber & Blood Society until next week. He did however rent a private room for the group. Everyone shares the information they have gathered throughout the day. Party ponders where more foci could be. Begin to question the motives behind the Earth Dragons handing out soup. Perhaps the Earth Dragons are part of the fish cult. Fawkes is not so convinced, he thinks the dark sea guild could have something to do with it.

Corash’s master’s sanity is called into question. Corash takes the party to Maurgiir… but he is preoccupied and doesn’t wish to meet with them.

Knightly Meeting

Fawkes and Gruffudd go to meet lady Zinora. She is currently meeting with Belgold Pegason. They share the information gathered today.

Belgold thinks Maurgiir could be the same mage who was kicked out of the Wizards Guild for summoning a creature without the proper precautions. Belgold is surprised he would be back in the city. He could be using magics to protect himself from spying.

He then informs them that the four “eyes” the maidens spoke of could be “void minds”. Victims of illithid attacks who only lost a portion of their brain, and had the rest replaced by the illithid. These would have 4 holes in their head which tentacles could come out of.

Ready'reat 25, CY 591

An Anxious Master

Corash talks to his master about him not seeing his companions. Maurgiir scolds him about bringing uninvited guests. Maurgiir persists in having corash find the “key”.

Securing the Expedition

Fawkes and Gruffudd see Steelbrand to inform him of things, and ask about the expedition. He asks that they speak to the Sunken Hammer Guild on his behalf.

Fawkes then has another intervention with Corash, informing of his master’s possible past deeds. They decide to go investigate the events at the library. Unfortunately, they can’t find anything of note at the library.

Mudsitters Allies

Kerth meets with Cedric at the Church of St. Cuthbert. He agrees that a group will be benificial, and agrees to join the group.

Next, at the Temple of Pursuit Kerth meets with Ellington. After some perswasive words from Kerth, Ellington agrees to send a representative to the group. He is not yet convinced of their worth however, and will not yet commit any help.

Drinking Buddies

Largo goes looking for information of Salsar’s death. Heads to the Dagger Down Tavern and speaks with Tull. After a bit of a run-around by Tull and some other patrons, Largo discovers Salsar’s skull is kept on the mantle.

Ready To Go

Fawkes and Gruffudd arrive at the Sunken Hammer Guildhall. There they speak with Guildmaster Aazair Djazama who informs them Absalom was preparing the same expedition. He is however, a week overdue. The guild plans to leave within a day or two with or without him. Fawkes informs Aazair they are friends of Absalom, and are working with Promethean Steelbrand who was preparing to make the very same expedition. Aazair agrees to take them in place of Absalom.

The two paladins then rush to speak with Steelbrand. He agrees to quickly gather some magical supplies for the expedition.

The Dead Do Not Speak

Largo heads to the Temple of Pursuit and speaks with Ellington about Salsar’s severed head. Ellington asks to be taken to the head. At the Dagger Down, Ellington attempts to speak with dead. However, some magical means prevents Salsar from speaking. Ellington, becomes more concerned that someone would take such a drastic step to silence even the dead. He suggests the next step would be to speak directly with Trithereon on the matter.

Experience & Loot

• 350 xp