The chronicle record
Session recap
At Torrentmoot, a boy confronted Vaska for sweets.
He knew of The Party’s fight with winged creatures, he said, because a rescued scout had told him—not because he had followed them.
Vaska Klashe gave him another chance: six gold and a list of four potion and elixir formulas to find. He ran off to help. She visited Grothlyn Zor, who showed her a map of the gathering painted with animal blood and dirt as a keepsake before the deluge. They spoke of The Arrivals’s recent fights and the need for unity against Whispering Tyrant. Grothlyn Zor told Vaska Klashe she was becoming popular and that The Boy admired her strength. Vaska Klashe showed her the Storm Skewer Maul, a gift from Ardax the White-Hair; Grothlyn Zor tested its heft and returned it. They toasted future victories, then agreed to one more bout, with Vaska Klashe keeping the maul sheathed. Before Vaska Klashe left, Grothlyn Zor lent her a hatchet that always returned when thrown and asked her to see if her friends could break its magic.
Klein asked Kestrel how the Knights of Lastwall maintained their numbers. She described their losses against Whispering Tyrant and the Knights’ search for allies. Klein offered to raise a mutual-aid alliance with the The Blackjackets’ captains, with training and Druman support among the possible benefits. Kestrel offered him a silver scimitar recovered from a fallen squire; Klein accepted and promised to convey the Knights’ goodwill. Gurnak told Davorr that a book about orcs he had found was flawed for omitting orc perspectives. They agreed to exchange research and work toward a book together. Davorr shared what he knew of Whispering Tyrant, the Shining Crusade, and Arazni’s history, including conflicting accounts of the Knights’ patron and rumors of Arazni-blessed Crimson Knights. While helping Davorr pack, Fizzik heard more of that history; they later discussed goblins’ possible alternatives to Lamashtu worship, and the Fabulous demonstrated goblin singing.
That night, two undead bears attacked the camp. The Arrivals fought alongside Grothlyn Zor, who struck one bear before hurrying off to other fighting. the Fabulous helped destroy one; Klein split the other with his sword after it seized Vaska Klashe and tried to tear off her arms. Ardax the White-Hair reported that scouts had killed the bears days earlier, but necromantic energies had left their bodies animated. Smaller zombies and skeletons had also attacked, and few were wounded. Ardax the White-Hair said the guards assigned to that area had been drunk and would be disciplined. In the later insult contests, the Fabulous defeated a hobgoblin, Vaska Klashe won her exchanges with Gurnak, and Klein and The Boy traded insults, with Klein winning the final exchange. Gurnak thanked Vaska Klashe for helping him understand orc culture. As the gathering prepared to witness the deluge, Gurnak and Davorr exchanged notes and agreed to collaborate and correspond; Davorr gave Gurnak a scroll of mirror image. the Fabulous spoke with Kestrel about the armed Knights and their readiness for trouble. At the overlook, Vaska Klashe and Gurnak noticed there were no animals or birds. Ardax the White-Hair also sensed something wrong and sent scouts to investigate. He gave The Arrivals a spacious pouch containing a potion of water breathing, which Gurnak passed to the Fabulous.
The gathering watched the Flood Road: first a shallow leading edge arrived, then a wall of water about twenty feet high swept through, carrying trees, boulders, and enormous chunks of ice. Hundreds of undead emerged from the earth along the flooded banks. Ardax the White-Hair ordered everyone back to base camp and directed The Arrivals to lead his guards and keep the route clear. The Arrivals guided the crowd through needledown cactus and onto the plains, where wild aurochs stampeded south. Gurnak turned a pair away from hunters; Vaska Klashe and others climbed clear, while Klein remained exposed as heavy rain began. Waterlogged undead attacked the stragglers. the Fabulous broke free after being seized, Vaska Klashe charged her maul with electricity, and Gurnak’s vitality magic injured undead and restored companions. Klein was wounded but resisted an undead creature’s whispered taunt. the Fabulous and Vaska Klashe destroyed the last attackers; Ardax the White-Hair and his guards dealt with the rest, and the stragglers reached safety.
The flood has displaced undead across the banks. The cause of the silent, animal-free overlook remains unknown.