Great Wing

The Rookery, Session 7

The party returned to Red Larch from Beliard, accompanied by Orsik (still riding Biscuit.) Orsik stopped briefly to offer his respects at a standing stone commemorating the death of Torhild Flametongue while fighting a hill giant on the Stonebridge. As they rode on, Orsik told them more about Torhild and the dwarvish kingdom of Besilmer. When the party reached the entrance to the quarry where they found signs of orcs a few days before, they went down into the quarry to investigate. Nazz determined that it was probably a small scouting party of 3-4 orcs that had camped in the quarry for a few days, sometime in the previous 5-7 days. Nazz was unable to track them beyond the quarry, because the orcs had apparently travelled along the road for at least a ways after leaving the quarry. The party set up camp and stayed the night in the quarry.

The next day, as the party was still a few miles out from Red Larch, they spotted what appeared to be four large bird, flying in the distance. As the birds flew nearer, they could see that they were actually Aarokockra. The Aaracockra circled the party as if studying them, then landed about 100 feet ahead of the party on the road. As the Aarokocra and the party approached one another, the Aaracockra seemed especially interested in and deferential to Caelyn.

They approached Caelynn first, bowing to her and referring to her as “Most honored Great Wing.” The Aarokocra leader Heehk told the party that “Elemental evil is breaking the walls between planes open, from both sides,” and that the Aarakocra had fallen through on of the cracks in the walls from the Plane of Air to Faerun. He also told the party that “They are hunting flying rocks—which Andira determined was a literal translation of the Aarakocra word for “gargoyles,” by using a Comprehend Languages spell. (Andiraalso later revealed that the spell also indicated that “Great Wing” was the Aaracokra word for “Dragon.”)

Before parting with the Aaracockra, the party asked for them to scout the area, and arranged to meet with them in a few days outside of Red Larch, to report if they had seen any signs of gargoyles nearby.

That evening in Red Larch, the party talked to Zook Timbers—a gnome priest of the Raven Queen, on temporary assignment at the All Faiths Shrine in Red Larch—about Nazz’s mother. Zook suggested they contact Whitby Dane, a priest of the Raven Queen in Waterdeep whose research specialty was restoring petrified beings to life.

The party also talked to Harbuck—the constable in Red Larch—about getting Orsik access to the underground chambers. Harbuck told the party that giving Orsik access to the dwarven carvings in the recently discovered chambers under Red Larch should not be a problem. The party also told Harbuck about the orc sign they had found at the abandon quarry. Harbuck seemed a bit concerned about the possible presence of orcs, and told the party that he would investigate more.

The following day was Feast of High Harvest. The party attended the rite of High Harvest that was conducted by Stindal Greenbrace (human priest of Chauntea—the goddess of life and bounty), Seren Kenefick (human priestess of Lathander—the god of birth and renewal), and Zook Timbers (priest of the Raven Queen—the goddess of death). Nazz left a ring that her mother—Quilana—had given her as an offering on the altar of the Raven Queen, with a prayer that her mother be revived safely from being petrified.

Andira sent a message to Whitby Dane using the Corgi Delivery Service, asking for help in restoring Nazz’s mother; Whitby replied quickly, telling them that he was very interested in discussing the matter more, but because of Whitby’s advanced age he could not travel, so the party needed to come and meet him in Waterdeep.

The next morning, the party took Orsik to meet Harbuck and go show him the dwarven stonework and carvings in the underground chambers. As they approached Harbuck, they saw and heard him arguing with Elak Dornan—the mayor of Red Larch and owner and operator of Dornan Fine Stone—who was saying to Harbuck that“I will not allow that dwarf to have access to the catacombs!”

Background and Development Notes

The Corgi Delivery Service is a subsidiary of the Sword Coast Traders Bank, that offers magical delivery of messages and small packages. Messages and packages can be shipped from either a branch of the bank (most cities on the northern Sword Coast have at least one location), or by leaving the parcel with one of several couriers who travel through many of the smaller towns and villages in order to offer services to people who live there. If the intended recipient of the parcel is in Faerun, and magically locatable, messages will be delivered by a spectral creature—the default is a Corgi. The spectral animal will vanish after successfully delivering the parcel to the intended recipient.

The delivery service is so named because the wizard who originally established the service kept Corgis as pets. Besides Corgis, three other spectral animals are available at no extra charge—a raven, an orange tabby cat, or a monkey. Other “premium” spectral creatures are available for a modest upgrade fee.

The Party

Andira—Female tiefling warlock. Andira is an orphan, left anonymously at the temple of the Raven Queen in Neverwinter when still a baby. The priests at the temple named her Andira, and raised and educated her. When she had reached her late teens, Andira was told by Vassyma—the head priestess of the temple—that she was to be initiated as a warlock of the Raven Queen. Soon after Andira completed her initial training as a warlock, Vassyma commanded Andira to travel to the town of Red Larch, and investigate any unusual happenings there.

Caelynn Xiloescient—Elven monk. Born into a family of glass artisans in Silverymoon, Caelynn grew up having little interest in the family business. Instead Caelynn dreamed of travel and adventure. With her parents grudging permission, Caelynn became a student at the Sun Soul Monastery in Silverymoon. There she trained for about 50 years (not that long for an elf.) Then, her master—Siora Quidithas—tasked her with her first quest; to travel to Summit Hall in the Summer Hills. There, Caelynn was to contact Ushien Stormbanner—the commander of the Knights of Samular at Summit Hall—who would give her further instructions. Ushien told Caelynn to travel to Red Larch, take a room at the Swinging Sword Inn, and “keep her ears open.”

Nazz Syldaran—Elven ranger. Nazz grew up in the elven enclave of Tangled Trees; her mother was a ranger and her father a Boyer. When Nazz was still relatively young, her mother disappeared—seemingly without a trace—while patrolling near the Sumber Hills. Nazz’s uncle Badgerlock—Quilana’s brother—completed Nazz’s training as a ranger. After fifty years (again, not long for , Nazz set off to try and find any clues to what might have happened to her mother. Badger lock suggested that she start her search in Red Larch.

Sariyas Theyne—Eladrin Rogue. Sarıyas grew up in the Feywild city of Elrodon, raised by his mother. Sariyas never knew his father, and his mother would never speak of him. When he got old enough, Sariyas joined a quasi-mercenary organization, and started working different—often unsavory—jobs as a result. While doing a job for an unknown client—who had paid up front—Sariyas broke into the house of an old and solitary merchant, with instructions to recover an amulet from the merchant. When he touched the amulet, he fell unconscious, and woke up in Faerun, with the amulet around his neck. Sariyas found he was unable to remove the amulet or step back to the Feywild. A note in his hand instructed him that if he wanted have the amulet removed, to travel to the town of Red Larch, and investigate unusual events in the. The note also instructed Sariyas to periodically return to an ancient rock cairn near where he woke up. There he was to leave written reports of what he had observed, and to check for further instructions.