The Forge of Fury Recaps

Session 13

• Venturing to a place between the Ezra (Human) and Montezuma (Dwarf) borders, the group located a mining town by the name of Blasingdell. Once a dwarven community, it has since become mixed after Montezuma turned possession of the city over to Genesis during the initial Discovery Wars. 
• Blasingdell is associated with a dwarven legend by the name of Durgedinn. A master smith who forged blades of quality and power. Centuries ago, his home was sacked by orcs. After survived that attack, he gathered the remnants of his clan and formed a secret stronghold near Blasingdell where he could forge weapons and wage war against all of orc-kind. Eventually, his enemies found him and waged a decade long siege before taking the stronghold from Durgedinn. 
• While most of Durgedinn's treasures were looted and stolen during the destruction of the stronghold, some secrets still rest in the Forge of Fury to be discovered...
• Dropped off in the forests that surround the Stonetooth Mountains, the group traveled in the early Spring weather. The main group stuck to the path through the forest while Calubris would go off ways and scout. 
• The group discovers the main path leads to an entrance into the mountain.
• Calubris found a natural chimney built into the mountain side that also appeared to go into the mountain.
• He also discovered humanoid tracks - at least four of them out and about.
• After Setis made sure the chimney was safe to go down, the group descended into the Mountain Door. 
• Appearing next to what looks like a crude kitchen and campfire, the group began scouting and found a nearby makeshift prison where two genasi women were being captive. Additionally, nearby, a green-skinned humanoid (orc) was guarding the area.
• When rescued, the women introduced themselves as Courana and Geradil. They had little in the ways of information to share. They had some meager coin and potions to offer in gratitude for being rescued. The group helped them climb out the way they came in: through the chimney. Courana and Geradil then left to reach Blasingdell and safety. 
• While the group managed to eliminate several orc sentry, they could not contain them all and soon the chaos of combat began. A small orcish horde seemed to have taken residence up here and they came out in troves with their leader: an ogre by the name of the Great Ulfe and his two dire wolves...

Session 14

• Setis and Aurora protected the groups flank - ultimately eliminating several orcs and destroying a wooden rope bridge to prevent more reinforcements form occuring.
• Reio, Selks, and Gremlin held the first front - a narrow tunnel which orcs and dire wolves descended down in hopes of snatching up the group. When it seemed the group would prevail, an Orog tactician by the name of Old Yarrack opted to set fire to one tunnel and retreat from the Mountain Door with some of his men. 
• Nimue and Calubris held the other front - first against a female shaman (Burdurg) and her disciples, then later a dire wolf and the Great Ulfe. Burdurg would eventually take one of her disciples and retreat further into the Stonetooth when she realized the battle was lost. 
• A battle waged on with numerous Divers nearly falling and dying, but Ulfe would eventually be slain with by Nimue's eldritch blast. 
• The group licked their wounds and opted to track down the shaman. In their attempts, they discovered a path going down into the mountain. They also found the shaman's quarters (which they looted) along with a room trapped by alchemist fire (which they were able to salvage some from).

Session 15

• Calubris would go on to loot the Mountain Door - sifting through the orcish living quarters to discover potions, gold, gems, and weapons. He would eventually bring them back to the group after they got into some trouble...
• Descending down some dwarven made steps, complimented by the natural minerals and stalagmites of the mountain, the group entered the Glitterhame. There, they discovered a natural river flowing through the mountain's underground. 
• In the first large cavern, the group found some resting stirges. They opted not to bother the bat-mosquito creatures. 
• The group took a side path towards the northeast - whereupon they discovered some branching tunnels. However, at the end of one, they discovered a wooden gate blocking an animal pen. Unknown to them, a camouflage troglodyte unlocked the pen and released the starving brown bear to attack the group!
• In combat against a brown bear and two hidden troglodytes, the group disturbed a nest of stirges. Calubris arrived in time to protect the groups flank against the stirges, while the group focused on the ambush. Reio nearly was taken down by the bear, but with Selks help, he overcame and defeated the creature. Reio opted to knock the bear unconscious and later let it wander back out into the mountainside. 
• Aurora had emptied out her spell reserves when she had been taken off guard by the ambush, as such, she insisted on the group resting. They decided to use the bear's former animal pen as a camping spot...
• During the night, unknown to the people who stayed up for watches, something claimed the corpses left behind.
• At the end of the watch and in the early morning, a mysterious stranger arrived. Covering their face with a high-tech visor, using a voice modulator, and wearing a longcoat to hide any physical traits, Reio decided to wake the group and approach the figure with a rifle. 
• Eventually revealing themselves as Jaunt, the stranger seemed cautious but not initially hostile. Jaunt shared that they had been contracted by their employer (a powerful entity) to come to this location and remove a 'portal to another world'. The 'another world' it referred to was likely another plane of existence - Calubris revealed that his true intentions here were to remove the extraplanar influence as well. 
• Setis gained some insight on Jaunt - realizing that the humanoid either had amnesia, a fragmented memory, or some other disassociation problem. Jaunt seemed to be missing important parts to their story, but gained insight based on instincts occasionally. 
• Jaunt and the Dungeon Divers decided to work together for the time being. Jaunt claimed that taking care of the portal would destroy the Forge of Fury, but that it was necessary. 

Session 16

• After a quick debate, the Divers opted to pursue the fleeing Orc Shaman rather than attempt to track down the troglodytes. With that, they pursued the southern passage. 
• Along the way in a side room, they discovered a garden of mushrooms and fungus along with a skeleton. Lucky for them, this one was not animated and it held a shiny magical sword. Aurora managed to use a cantrip to destroy the dangerous mold that Selks had identified. Once cleared, Nimue entered and collected the loot.
• From there, the group entered into the Glitterhame proper... a great cavern glimmering with phosphorescence and a high ceiling with various bright flecks in the stone formations. More mushrooms and fungus were spread around. 
• As the group began to spread out around the room... an ambush was waiting! A giant lizard fell off the roof and swallowed Setis whole!
• Jaunt and Reio went to Setis' aid, but the lizard proved to be on the defensive. However, Selks succeeded by channeling his (small) connection with the Reaper and with a powerful blooding shot, the lizard was forced to vomit up Setis. Calubris soon joined the fray as the lizard turned its attention to Reio!
• Setis began to transform into an unspeakable monstrosity, wounded and hurt as she was, lashing out with tentacles at the lizard. Kaarghaz the Chief of the Troglodytes revealed himself then. A powerful sorcerer riding atop another giant lizard, the chief fired off scorching rays at Calubris and then fled to its reinforcements.
• Nimue and Gremlin then began returning fire on the enemies as a horde of troglodytes came rushing in from all sides of the battle field on the group. Some were even hidden on the belly of the huge lizard that had ambushed Setis!
• Here are some highlights of the fight...
• An enraged Setis ripped apart the huge lizard that had ambushed her.
• Kaarghaz got some good hits in across the party and revealed its master - a dragon by the name of Nightscale. In the end, the sorcerer was the only survivor as he managed to escape the group with an invisibility spell after he was cornered. 
• Some hungry gricks got involved in the battle, but were ultimately slain.
• Nimue used his eldritch fey charms to obtain the obedience of one of the troglodytes. 

Session 17

• Basking in post-combat bliss, the group did a few things...
• Aurora investigated the nearby area and found some dwarven sepulchers - which she had no shame in looting. A magical tankard of sobriety was found!
• Calubris found a side path he believed to be the way to the portal he was after.
• Reio in the mean while found a water fall leading down into the caverns below to the south. 
• Nimue let her charmed troglodyte fan go free.
• After some discussion, the group decided to take the path Calubris found and entered into some dwarven ruins...
• On one of the doors they ran into, a Magic Mouth shouted out an alarm about intruders -- alerting to the duergar lurking nearby. 
• Ghared the spy of their duergar company entered into a dwarven stand off with the group. By offering a bribe (the tankard of sobriety), Ghared opted to vouch for the party and allowed them to enter their territory. She warned the group about the dragon Nightscale but also forbid them from going to a certain path in the dungeon -- claiming that was their personal quarters and not meant for the group. Calubris had a feeling that the portal was behind that forbidden path...
• An argument took place between Ghared and Calubris. The duergar stood their ground and refused to acknowledge the portal anomaly. 
• Ghared shared that the duergar have been trapped down here since the Upheaval - having been separated from their home by the earthquakes when they were children. 
• Taking the path to the north away from the duergar after negotiations grew tense, the group discovered a pool of dark water and sensed a malevolent spirit within it...

Session 18 

• Arundil the Dwarven Ghost was a former mage under the service of the dwarvens who long ago lived here. He had been driven mad and insane by the grief caused when he abandoned his comrades in fear of the invading orcs... and now he turned that insanity onto the party when they invaded his (un)resting place.
• Several members of the group unwillingly were aged by the frightened presence of the ghost - growing older instantly. 
• The party attacked the ghost rather ineffectively and it would possess Calubris during part of the battle, but eventually Nimue would call upon her patron to force the ghost into a stalemate. She forced some answers free from it before it broke her hold and disappeared into the surrounding terrain.
• Selks found a small skeleton army nearby that ended up falling in command to him thanks to his necromancy-magic whistle. 
• A corpse of a Dungeon Diver scout was located. No identification could be found on her.
• In a nearby secret passage, a dwarven crypt was found when an orcish wight and two ogre skeletons were resting in. 
• The Wight and the party made a 'deal'. The group would send it any 'food' they found in exchange for information. The Wight warned the group that the woman down here was a liar.
• Shortly thereafter, they met the liar woman (Idalla) in question... in a nearby library that once belonged to Arundil, the group discovered a woman dressed much like the Dungeon Diver Scout.
• The group refused to trust her, despite her sob story of being trapped down here by monsters. 
• The woman did seem to possess knowledge that only a Dungeon Diver would know...
• The group opted not to allow her to follow them and so she stayed behind, frustrated and sadden...
• Following another secret passage, the group then came to an eldritch planar portal and a strange light elemental guarding it. It claimed to be the Protector of the Lost Realm and soon combat would break out between the two sides...

Session 19 

• The Divers, seeking to close the extraplanar portal, began combat with the Liosalfar - a vaguely humanoid creature/elemental made of light. 
• Calubris started off the fight - exchanging blows with it. Reio and Setis both came to the dragonborn's aid. Aurora and Nimue both threw spells at it while Gremlin and Selks used clever tactics to support the group with healing, ranged attacks, and other tricks.
• The Liosalfar was impressive - resistance to most elements, immune to many conditions, and had an arsenal of light-based spells at its disposal that it used against the group such as scorching rays and sunbeams. It easily cut through Selks' skeletons and nearly killed Calubris and Selks at one point. The creature also soundly trounced Jaunt without much effort. 
• The group only got bits and pieces of insight regarding the creatures motivation - spurred on by some 'pattern' that it had to complete. 
• The Liosalfar, taking blow after blow from the group, was on its last legs after Gremlin released an impressive salvo of magic missiles against it. Rather than die, the creature plane shifted away to the astral plane to recover for another day. 
• During the battle, a duergar smith spellcaster and his two apprentices stumbled upon the groups battle...
• In league with the creature, the two apprentices tried to clear the chasm and attack the group, but Setis and Reio cut their lines and made them fall into the ravine below. Meanwhile, the spellcaster unleashed a shatter spell on the group and would later turn invisible and use levitate to try and join the battle more directly...
• The spellcaster set his rat familiar to warn the rest of the duergar who then began a game of telephone. Using a secret passage, the spy that the Divers had dealt with earlier ambushed the group and critically wounded Gremlin. Selks would later save her from death with an emergency patching contraption. 
• Aurora would soon discover that her hiding in the back tactics always came with a catch - the wight from earlier along with two ogre skeletons were creeping up from behind to attack her. First, however, the ghost from earlier would reveal itself to the witch and let her know that he was on her side -- and just in time as the 'liar' woman from earlier appeared and showed her true colors: a succubus! Aurora now had to fight on two fronts, though Reio could later come to her defense. 
• Once the creature was defeated, Nimue saw the portal still present and worried that other creatures may now come to its defense through it. She looked to her Warlock Patron for answers and heard a voice come to her and billions of eyes of what she assumed to be was the fey courts looking at her. Persuading the patron, it told her to take Jaunt's power and use it. 
• Jaunt, having been revived by Setis after his beatdown by the Liosalfar, opted to trust Nimue after being persuaded to do so. He soon found himself being drained and acting as a conduit for Nimue - who began to shrink and close the portal. In the process, Nimue began to gain some insights into Jaunt's past... 
• The Divers continue the battle - having dealt with the threat guarding the portal, but are still left with the duergar, the wight, the succubus, and the portal itself...

Session 20

• The battle continued on...!
• The Wights and the Ogre Skeletons were defeated through the group's might while the majority of the duergar were slain as well. Only a handful of them (those scared by the ghost wizard) fled and escaped the dungeon after being charmed by the succubus who had been driven off earlier. 
• Jaunt would eventually be left dead and rained by Nimue's patron, but the goal was accomplished... the planar portal was closed. Left behind were two strange creatures, "Blinkies", more or less glitches from a strange realm... they seemed interested in feeding on magic.
• With everything done, the group took a moment to honor Jaunt's memory and retreat to Arundil's library to take a rest and discuss what the wizard knew...

Session 21

• During their long rest, Aurora and the others delved into the library's research. In it, they found a ritual from Libris Mortis (The Book of the Undead) that would put Arundil to rest. Although it did take its toll on the group, they were able to do the right thing by helping the ghost pass on to the afterlife. 
• During their rest, the group each found books of interest...
• Setis: 'Keighton, Haunt of Auldermere' (https://preview.ibb.co/c6erwJ/Untitled.png) details a fey creature that resides in Auldermere Castle (the old fey court). Its powers are a warped lens; she can only access memories that every other creature has already forgotten, and they are, ultimately, memories and not recreations. So she studies the far reaches of the past through the subjective fog of those who lived it. The Blinkies seemed to know the creature and feared it.
• Aurora: 'Glitterdust' a thesis on a forgotten spell by Arundil that allowed Aurora to learn it. A second hand copy of the Draconomicon: the complete study of dragons along with a first edition copy of a history book called 'The Wrath of Ashardalon'. It details the death, destruction, and carnage he visited upon the land as well as his growing cult. Some important details for Aurora would include... Ashardalon's attempt to ascend to godhood (the Bastion of Broken Souls), his enemies (Dydd the Archdruid and her circle of elements)...the elven bow Providence, which is said to have pierced Ashardalon's chest with a magical arrow forged from the user's own soulforce, and his pact with the balor Aameul which he forged into a living heart.
• Selks: 'The History of Khundrukar and the Smith Durgeddin' a biography written by Andruil himself, this features the history and truth between the rise and fall of Durgeddin and their last stand here at Khundrukar. While the legend has been spread and shared, first hand accounts are almost non-existant since they were wiped out by the invading orcs. Worth something to the right historian buff. 
• Selks: 'The Death Curse' is a legend written by a follower of the Reaper. It details of a period of time where the 'Death' domain was stolen from him and abused. The 'how' is difficult to find, though it makes mention of something called an Atropal being used as a conduit to accomplish the task. During the time of this Curse, death was final and resurrection magic could not be used. Those who had benefited from resurrection magic in the past found themselves decaying and dying. 
• Selks: 'Healing Potions For Dummies' this is an ancient mass produced task that details how to create a healing potion. After spending some time studying it, it details a few cost effective short cuts. You can craft Healing Potions at half the cost. 
•  Reio: A journal ("Beasts and How To Hunt Them") which details Kurtis (an Occultist) and his companion Richard (a Blood Hunter) and their hunt across an ancient and evil place called the Domains of Dread. It details all manner of evil and monster that they encountered with detailed drawings of physiology and reports of weaknesses along with folk lore about the beasts. Towards the end, it is left ambiguous whether Kurtis and Richard overcame the evil in their own hearts in the face of the Dread Mists and Dark Lords.
• Reio: A travel expedition log ("Gutterkin and How They Were Uplifted") that takes place in Fey Wilds and was penned by a pair of siblings Rhett Brukka (a druid) and Ryka Brukka (a ranger). The skin shifters discovered a tribe of Gutterkin (mutated woodland fey animals, which no two are alike) that over time after being exposed to chaotic magics, developed humanoid like intelligence, wisdom, sentience, and conscience. 
• Reio: A hengeyokai scroll ("Kemono Norowa" aka 'Beast Cursed') which was a collection of art and folklore about various stories involving the Beast Cursed (hengeyokai unable to assume humanoid form). There were two stories of note. First was of Okami (the first Wolf, and believed by some scholars to be the deity known as The Brother) who became jealous of the Turtle for being gifted the moon by the Dragon. Okami claimed the moon was his and in his hubris, was cursed by the Turtle to never...be able to enjoy the moonlight - growing into a frenzied rage and becoming a lycanthrope. The second story focused on something called the Mists of Akuma... which rolled into hengeyokai villages and transformed them into the first beast cursed. The purple miasma is said to be the harbinger of the oni and brings only doom upon the world. 
• Nimue attempted to learn more about the Blinkies, but soon hit a dead end with them... they would eventually disappear entirely after being scared off by Setis. 
• After getting what information they could from the library and putting their ghosts (living and dead) to rest, the group proceeded to acquire the last bit of dwarven treasure down here by seeking out the aforementioned Nightscale... the group descended into the Black Lake.
• Finally, nearing the end of their long rest, Reio discovered a curious critter. An Uplifted Gutterkin (an otter-man, to be specific) was scavenging in a nearby room. After introducing himself as Trader and with some miscommunication thanks to his poor common, the group eventually opted to help the little fella find a missing item down here...

Session 22

• With their new friend Trader, the Divers fought off against Nightscale in the Black Lake. Nightscale was not alone - having several flying snakes and crab monsters at his command. The very lake itself seemed to serve him as well and he had a troglodyte sorcerer who was out for revenge... 
• A good portion of the back row became frustrated - forced to defend their flank from enemy after enemy.
• Nightscale's acidic breath proved to be dangerous and deadly, ever threatening against the party...
• Setis' turning into a tentacle monstrosity helped control the battle some - grappling the dragon and bringing it for a beatdown against the party. When the battle ended and the dust settled, Setis would taste of Nightscale's DNA...
• When all was said and done with, Trader thanked the group for helping him recover his portable hole. The Gutterkin did not make any claim to the dragon's treasures - leaving that for the group to grab and divide among themselves. Trader, did, however, gift each person a strange and abnormal magic item as a thank you gift. 

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Forge of Fury Takeaways 

• This is the first of the Planar Disturbances encountered by the group. Is the Light Elemental the cause behind them, or is something guiding it? 
• Are the planar disturbances causing these long lost dungeons to appear?
• Are these dungeons from... other worlds?
• Are the Blinkies associated with the Liosalfar? Is Trader associated with either of them?
• This is the second dragon the group encountered... young ones. Weren't these creatures extinct? Neither dragon knew its parents. One can be chance, but two is starting to show a pattern... is something or someone breeding dragons?
• Jaunt. A former Genesis experiment turned terrorist. Who broke him free from Genesis custody and set him to hunt down planar disturbances? What is his patron's intentions?
• A few enemies still lurk in the shadows from the Forge of Fury. Idalla the Succubus, a band of duergar, and a band of orcs. Will they come looking for revenge?
• What is the Storyteller's goal? Is it simply to make quality reality television show, or is there a purpose sending the Divers to the Sunless Citadel, the Forge of Fury, and whatever dungeon awaits them next...

Player Character Development

• Selks
• Fighting against debt from a law suit and the ties you made to the Gomez Cartel are a tall order... but you have something that will win their favor: the dwarven made weapons from the Forge of Fury. Seek out Mia Gomez, your necromancer friend, and make the delivery (and maybe bring her back her familiar.)
• Alternatively... you know Elisa of the Vargas Cartel has an obsessive interest in her and would no doubt want the Forge's weapons too. The halfling is the leader of her cartel and has considerably more resources and influence that Mia does. You could cut and run from Gomez and join up with Vargas...
• You feel touched by the Reaper and find that his gaze is unrelenting these days. What does this mean for you?
• Reio
• You have recently uncovered some new information that could help you in your search to cure the curse you're inflicted with. Is this something you can truly be free of, or will it stay with you to the end of your days? At least you have the support of Rizu, a longtime friend, in your corner. 
• Genesis has started to take an interest in you again thanks to your run-in with Sofia Weber (Head of MAGE). What do they want with you? Will you work with them again? Or are they finally getting around to cleaning up a mess...
• Calubris
• Though you have had small successes as a Horizon Walker, you feel for the first time you've made a huge leap in protecting the material plane against the threats of other planes. However, you fear this might just be the beginning. The liosalfar still breathes, and there are likely more rifts for you to go after.
• Whether you acknowledge it or like it, your duty is held back by one thing. Your draconic nature. Nightmares haunt you of your indeterminable origins and dreams whisper of what might be for you. Where will your draconic heritage lead you?
• Gremlin
• The television show has done wonders for your publicity, though a part of you feels the pangs of not being in the Battle Bot circuit. Your spat with NPC gave you a taste of it, but people are starting to wonder when you'll get back in the ring and go after a championship?
• The Red King, servant of the Machine God, has taken an interest and liking in you. He hopes to convert you to his side against the establishment and see that divinity and evolution rests ahead in the science of A.I. and machine. Will you work with him, or oppose him?
• Nimue
• What is going on with your Patron? You believe it to be your father, a powerful fey king, but the whispers to you lately don't seem like him. A voice that encouraged you to use Jaunt (leading to his demise) and an ego that feeds your importance and vanity.
• Yet, you felt a calling to the Living Light when you encountered the Blinkies... what is the truth behind the Liosfalar and those creatures? Why does it speak to you?
• Setis
• You have tasted of new DNA samples. What are you? What were you? What will you become?  Holden (the Storyteller's assistant) perhaps has the secrets to the truth behind your origins. 
• Lukas Baer, ROGUE Agent on behalf of Genesis, is keeping tabs on you... what are his intentions?
• Aurora
• Ever since Ashardalon touched you in the Sunless Citadel, his draconic influence threatens you each more with passing day. While you grow in strength, you know you wish to be rid of his influence. Seek out leads that might help you accomplish this, such as Nerva (Son of the Dragon) who is said to be imprisoned after terrorizing the town of Raske after the death of his brother (Otho). 
• And if to exacerbate things, your own dark past and history hangs over you. Your family, your band, and other things. You still have Maximilian, your producer as well as your assistant Haidra Crowley. Maybe they can help you?