Events+of+Olarune+3-4,+998+YK

=Events of Olarune 3-4, 998 YK=

Highlights:

 * The party manages to rescue Faye Dwarfhammer, who was being held captive by something called The Cult of The Three Below.
 * Rescue took place deep under Sharn, in the Sewers just above the lava that powers The Cogs, in passageways dating back to the old Goblin City. Fought a squad of six Daask Gnolls led by a Gnoll Druid with the Children of Winter sect. Nina found a weapon belonging to a Gatekeeper Druid who had died down there.
 * Party also engaged in serious battles with a large force of Dolgrims, led by a pair of Dolgaunts; acquired a couple of Grimlocks as allies (the Grimlocks had been wiped out by the Dolgrims); and in a titanic battle managed to destroy the Dolgrim Mamasan, a horrid tentacled egglaying aberration responsible for creating hundreds of the little two-mouthed, four-armed bastards.
 * Stend Bakker slain by members of Daask on the orders of their co-leader, Carvalho. Body dumped on floor of the Piece of Home Inn in an attempt to prove to the party that despite their recent failures, Daask was still dangerous and capable of hurting the party. Carvalho convinced the party members to engage in single arena combats, as a way of "testing" whether their leaders, Colden Torbald and Draco, were indeed "chosen by the Draconic Prophecy" as some had suggested to him. Among other things, he confirmed that his organization had been contracted by Noceon Zimmall to perform certain tasks and provide security to the Cult of The Three Below. For one thing, the attack on the Hobgoblin courier in Wroat was an NZZN-contracted hit, paid for with ancient Dhakaani coins, alchemical items and magical trinkets (obviously channeled through NZZN from their other client.
 * Also at the Piece of Home Inn, it was revealed that Alfred Meldrum, Cyran Bard and onetime party member, had turned, apparently giving Daask valuable information on the party in exchange for what he though was a position of power -- and the Druid Nina as his personal plaything.
 * Kaela, an Elf working as a freelance operative of NZZN, was introduced to the party. She was loaned to Carcalho and Daask for the purpose of Divination, to help the Ogre Mage choose what path to take. But the intent and meaning of the Draconic Prophecy, if indeed it is in play, proved inscrutable to the Elf. Kaela later defeated Brackenmore Willington in single combat (as part of Carvalho's "solution" to his dilemma), but spared the Q'barran Rogue's life.
 * Thomas the Wizard was paired with a Goblin Blue Psion, apparently the same one that he'd fought in Frostsilver Hold. How the Goblin got there was a mystery, but the fight between arcane and psionic power was nasty, brutish and short, with Thomas the victor.
 * For her part, Nina fought Alfred. The fight was evenly matched, since Nina had used the majority of her Druid spells restoring the rest of the party to health earlier that day. Alfred summoned skeletons to do his fighting for him, and hit her with sound bursts, while Nina wildshaped into a bear and pursued him across the arena landscape (which for this battle included a stream). Alfred scored a lucky hit with his shortsword, dropping the Warden into the water, facedown, unconscious, bleeding and drowning. Instead of finishing her off, Alfred decided to gloat and play to the crowd. Unknown to him or anyone, Nina had a secret benefactor -- a spectator at the arena who cast Close Wounds at range and brought her to one hit point. She rose from the water and smote the Bard with her Gatekeeper Clubwand, killing him and winning.
 * The people of Sharn, just like the rest of Breland, are reeling from the death of King Boranel ir'Wynarn. All the city's bells were rung on the 3rd, announcing his death. 36 hours later, the wealthy and connected who attended the Arena matches in Callestgan District all wore black in symbolic mourning, and there was a moment of silence before the main events to honor the fallen King.
 * In the first main event, Colden Torbald was defeated in single combat with the living Flesh Golem, Fedder. Battle wasn't to the death, and used a unique "king of the hill" format that seemed to suit the Golem's superior size and strength. It was very very close.
 * In the evening's final battle, Draco was matched with ...Diizina. The Barghest had a score to settle from their last fight in Wroat, and had apprently traveled to Sharn and allowed himself (and his Goblin Blue lackey) to be used by Daask to test the Prophecy. The fight was long, and filled with Barghest treachery and preparation (some fire resistance, a couple of minor magic items...and two combat maneuver feats and a level of Ranger with Favored Enemy being Shifters). Still, depsite all that, Draco came agaonizingly close to winning the fight -- but in the end Diizina was the victor. Then, in a disgusting display that caused most of the crowd to head for the exits, the Barghest consumed the Shifter, body and soul (leaving behind his magic items and gear) and transformed into a Greater Barghest.
 * The battles over, Carvalho pronounced himself satisfied with the "information" he'd gleaned, and told the party that they were free to go, but with a final warning: "Your Sharn privileges have been revoked. If you ever interfere with me or my people again, you will die worse that the Shifter." Kaela was also released from her contract, and she followed the dispirited group to their temporary abode, the Sharn villa of Baron Curzon ir'Dorn.
 * The Baron, for his part, briefed the group -- and his other guest, Crest-- on the political situation in Breland, and invited them to serve as his entourage when he traveled to Wroat for the King's funeral and viewing. In addition, the Baron told Crest, the only actual Brelander present, that he had been nominated for the Roll of Honour, to be read on 1 Eyre. This would elevate Crest to the lowest level of the nobility, as an Officer of the Brelish Crown.