A summary of the events as I recall them...

We arrived on the eve of Friday to the Gardens via a transport beacon, arriving we scouted the local area finding a pyramid like obelisk, marked with ancients texts and blood. Facing the obelisk was a mirror which reflected the pyramid but not anyone (Living or Unliving) who stood in front of it and at the bvase of the obelisk a chained and locked chest.

Beyond the obelisk stood a compound, akin to a collection of 'hunting lodges'. As we advanced we out party was attacked by a range of plant creatures, presumably local to the Gardens. In addition, I shall call them Avatars, an Avatar of Zanassu appeared an set us a challenge, which I believe was to gain entry to the compound and overcome the defences within. These included a creature who was only susceptible a single type of damage or effect each time it appeared.

Successful completion of this task led to use being gifted with a plant extract from the local flora and a request/demand from the Avatar that one of our party take his place as Guardian of the Garden in the name of Zanassu, I believe the chosen was Gonzalez of the now, newly joined Trampnation.

Within the main lodge in the compound we found many texts, scrolls, and trinkets from ages past. Also set within the one of the walls of the lodge was a mirror, which we would later learn held two individuals captive, both claiming to be a Paladin of Lolth named Caiden Cain (sp?)

We were beset through the night by waves of aggressive local flora and visited by other creatures of an Ancestral nature who set us tasks to complete. I was not involved in many, but some I saw included puzzle boxes and searches of the surrounding areas for tokens bearing the mark of Ancestors.

A task was set by an Avatar of Lolth to demonstrate our martial prowess, we were to face an enemy assault without the use of any offensive magic. Unfortunately we failed this task, fighting controlable/summonable creatures, someone invoked the powers of the Ancestors to dismiss or control one of the creatures, causing us to fail.

Following this failure, the Valsharess issued a warning that anyone who was the cause of failure for these tasks would find their life forfeit.

The Avatar of Zinzerena also appeared to set a challenge, one of our party had been….inhabited, by a possession, which we could not scan, lest it jump to a new host. We were tasked with finding the person who was “acting strange” and strike them with a dagger from Zinzerena, we were able to deduce that the possession resided within one of the Morgan’s who had come to campaign with us. With this challenge complete, Alton of House Mael’Thra was chosen to take on her mantle as Guardian of the Garden.

The final news of the Friday was the appearance of a Demonfey within the compound, who was able to carry out a rite, which infected many of our number, 8-10 with a ‘Demon Seed’. Similar to the one we had encountered at the Gathering of Nations but the power of this ‘seed’ had grown by 3 thaums in the 3 months since the Gathering. Logic thus has deduced that anyone who allows these ‘seeds’ to germinate and become fully grown would have their body become host to a fully-fledged demonfey and become one of their minions. Estimates are that this could occur for anyone with one by the first Moot of 1117.

The Saturday began with a small group of us, who were residing within the central lodge, being assailed by more of the local plant life. Outnumbered we had several members down and close to death before reinforcements arrived to drive them off and revive those of us who had been holding the lodge.

It also saw another Avatar of the Garden arrive, this time representing Lolthiriel, he demanded that we achieve balance as out task and presented forth a set of magical scales, we were then set to work finding objects of varying weights and values to balance the scales. As others worked on calculating the values of the items we had sourced, Gonzalez of the Trampnation once more stepped forward and with some unique ingenuity resolved the task to the Avatar’s satisfaction. Again we were gifted with a sample of the local flora which by now we knew we needed to combine to create a phosphorescence to be placed into a lantern and illuminate our path forward and another was required to step forward and take the mantle of Guardian, Tockoles was chosen for the representative for Lolthiriel.

Later in the day on the Saturday we saw ever more vicious and clever plant life assailing us, creatures which secreted a potent magical poison that they could coat their claws with. I was personally on the receiving end of this and can vouch for its toxicity and virulence, being moments from death and saved by the swift actions of Yaskel, Malakai and Tockoles. Later that night similar creatures appeared utilising weapons that they were able to coat to act as a bane against various races or pattern types, seemingly at will as they studied their foe.

Saturday also saw Avatars from Lareth, Megwandiir and Moandiir and a rare second chance from Lolth.

Megwandiir – The Avatar appeared asking for followers to come and kill without remorse, following her a selection of us slaughtered a group of Wood Elves. One of Kage Kitsune a human called Thorin was caught holding back, after being dressed down by Tathal, the Valsheress and the Avatar of Megwandiir, Thorin was chosen to take on the Mantle of Guardian of Megwandiir as a lesson for him to learn in following instructions.

Lareth – The Avatar appeared within the compound with 2 other creatures in tow, bearing an apple. Our task, not to eat the apple. This magical fruit was able to exert its influence over several people, myself included. I knew that to devour this fruit would grant me my greatest desire, I am thankful to Lolth that I was not given the opportunity to be alone with it and give into the temptation. The same cannot, unfortunately, be said for the individual known as Spiderhead, who when he had the opportunity took it and bit deep. He was afflicted with a powerful and complicated poison, which we were unable to counteract and became our first casualty of the weekend.

The Avatar then made a later appearance, the task was to uncover her desire. Whether this was Lareth herself or that of the Guardian remains unclear, but the answer was apparently to be entertained, achieved by Tockoles singing to her. We were once more rewarded with a sample needed for the lantern mixture and Evie, I believe from the Jackals, was chosen to take on the mantle of Guardian.

Moandiir – The Avatar appeared and set us a task to seek out a corrupted and decaying stump or root within the Garden, as we found it we were beset upon by Plants utilising corrupting powers. Alton wielding Khaza’drea hacked the corrupted plant apart as the rest of our force held the attacking plants at bay. Again gifted with a sample of the plant we needed for our mixture and I was chosen to take up the Mantle as Guardian of the Garden for the aspect of Moandiir.

Lolth – We were offered an exceptionally rare second opportunity by Lolth to prove our martial ability, this time without the use of any magic, offensive or defensive. Although I did not witness it, reports say that Eric of the Order of Fenris utilised magic, and by order of the Valsharess was slain, making our second casualty of the visit to the Gardens.

Midnight Saturday saw us having further dealings between the two individuals within the mirror, up to this point I had been present to hear their words. Those who had were able to come to a conclusion as to which was the correct one and conducting a Rite, summoned forth the ancient Paladin leaving the other, an agent of Satuun trapped within it.

A Rite was also conducted to unlock the chains around the chest, inside was revealed a magical stone tablet and the dessicated right arm of some large creature.

Sunday dawned and with 6 of the 8 Guardians assigned and missing one ingredient for the lantern, we set forth towards the obelisk to unlock it’s magic and decipher the words upon the tablet.

Caiden Cane was revealed to be a Guardian of the Garden, for the aspect of Araushnee. This mantle was passed to Tathal. The final Guardianship was that of Lolth, Cane told us that a sacrifice would allow us to grant the mantle of Guardian to the one who stepped forward. After much debate, our own Valsharess stepped forth, but was declined for the role of Guardian, by what I do not know, following this Rassar of House Rea’Morda bravely stepped forward to take up the position. His life was able to be spared by the swift actions of our healers and thus granted us the 8 Guardians of the Garden.

The Demonfey realising what we were attempting to do began attacking in force, so while our forces did battle, our rite master began unlocking the obelisk. This in turn summoned an agent of Satuun who attempted to usurp control of the Rite from Morgulion and reportedly corrupt or control him to join the forces of the betrayer.

The next Rite was to decipher the writings on the tablet, this went smoothly and once revealed one was chosen to receive the knowledge contained therein, Randipan was selected to bear the knowledge of our next mission, he saw the location of a Skull topped throne, on an Island in a glimmering sea, underground. We believe this to be the same island that is inhabited by the Wife of Malakai. This was corroborated later by the arrival of two Dolly’s acting as puppets for the lich, who confirmed that the Demonfey were already present on her island.

Finally a Rite was conducted to seal the Obelisk and the tablet back into the chest and hide it from our enemies, in doing so, those of us chosen as Guardians were required to demonstrate our deservedness of the role of Guardian and how we represented the aspect we were bound to.

So concluded our campaign into the Poison Gardens of Zul’Naan.

Malkier
House Rea'Morda