Session #28 21/3/2214 AR (lvl 7-9) - The Golden Ghost #3 - Draugr Attack Quodeth

Finnris Zerda Vorstag and Aeshma are drinking & relaxing with Ayilda in a dockside tavern one foggy evening, when a horde of draugr attack from the sea. The Spear of Azura does its work, though most of the patrons are zombified, except for Aldis of Lomar, captain of a Xebec now in need of a new crew. The Draugr were sent by undead Captain Bruneval, whose 'ghostberg' now sits in the bay off Quodeth.
Later, Zerda walks with Queen Deyane Hazeda in the palace gardens, and they kiss.


Bruneval’s Return - by Aeshma

It is ten days before the Summer Solstice when we find ourselves back in Quodeth where we meet up in a dockside tavern and the conversation moves to coming up with a name for our group. Several are proposed but none seem quite right. As the evening goes on we are joined by the Nimothan warrior Ayilda who fought alongside us at Voor Darayn.

As it is now the Long Day the sun never truly sets but late in the evening the sky is darkened when a heavy mist rolls in from the bay. We hear cries of dismay from outside as undead emerge from the water and attack any living beings they can find, but as they break into our tavern we realise that we must be their target – the undead are draugr from Bruneval’s iceberg, and Tarm’s warning that the cursed undead captain would return to hunt us proves accurate.

Some of the Quodethi manage to escape the undead but others are killed, only to rise again as zombies a few seconds later. Ayilda and Vorstag concentrate on the draugr attacking the front door of the tavern where Zerda has cast a Grease spell to hinder them. Ayilda’s rage gets the better of her and consumed by a berserk frenzy she steps outside to take the fight to the draugr.

Inside the tavern a group of Lomari sailors make a stand but one by one are killed until only their captain remains. Aeshma, Finnris and Zerda fight together to prevent a lone fighter being swarmed by the undead. The Spear of Asura proves as formidable as ever against the draugr, while Zerda’s Moonblade has apparently developed similar abilities.

Eventually the undead are vanquished and Vorstag hurries to the Palace to check that the undead have not attacked there and that Queen Deyane is safe. Zerda follows at a more dignified pace. It transpires that Bruneval’s iceberg is hidden in the mist covering Sarvin Bay so Zerda and Vorstag are asked to head over to the iceberg and remove the threat that Bruneval poses to Quodeth.

Back at the tavern, Aeshma speaks with the Lomari captain, Aldus, who commands the Xebec “Gold Lion”. As we are going to be heading to Marg to rescue Ironmaster Bronn it might not be prudent to turn up there in a Quodethi tartane.

After the official meeting with the Queen, Zerda asks to spek with her in private. It turns out that Prince Dredan has asked to promote Captain Azarde to the rank of Admiral ahead to the likely attack on Marg, and has suggested Zerda as a replacement for his position as Captain of the Royal Guard. Zerda is unwilling to agree: while he would enjoy spending more time around Queen Deyane, it would limit him to remaining in Quodeth - and under Prince Dredan’s eye. She also warns that Oruk-Maneth is apparently very friendly with the new Vizier…

When Zerda shares the details of the conversation with the rest of us, Aeshma recalls that Captain Azarde had also been courting the Queen. If he is appointed as Admiral, it would get him out of Quodeth for a while.

Finally, we hear that Lomar has established a military outpost at Cheir on Lake Kydar which brings them close to Quodethi territory, either by way of the Jungle of Zaal to reach the Quosa River, or across the Kurmanur Wilds if they are seeking to establish a landward route.