RECAP: War of the Burning Sky, 9-6-26, 9-20-26, 10-18-26

Through the Jungle

The adventurers’ return journey through the jungles of the Mwangi Expanse proved anything but uneventful. Having survived their earlier ordeals, the party was making its way back toward the village of Eresh and the Monastery of the Two Winds when it encountered a dangerous assortment of prehistoric predators. The resulting battle tested both the party’s fighting abilities and its ingenuity. With enormous dinosaurs threatening the travelers, the adventurers employed a combination of magic, martial skill, and unconventional tactics to survive.

Titus attempted to draw a particularly dangerous tyrannosaur away from his companions, taking advantage of his ability to fly. Elsewhere, the party continued battling the other creatures, struggling to protect themselves while navigating the difficult terrain. The encounter was complicated by the party’s ongoing efforts to navigate the jungle, requiring them to make further decisions about their route and how best to proceed. Ultimately, the adventurers overcame the danger and resumed their journey toward civilization.

Heroes Return to Eresh

The party’s arrival in Eresh was considerably more pleasant than its previous experiences in the region. The villagers welcomed the adventurers warmly, recognizing their efforts in addressing the dangers that had plagued the settlement. Although Eresh had suffered grievous losses, there were unmistakable signs of recovery. Daily life had begun to resume, and the inhabitants were once again conducting their ordinary business.

Perhaps the most significant change concerned the monastery overlooking the village. Where the monks had previously remained isolated and secretive, the gates were now open. Monks had begun visiting Eresh, purchasing food and supplies, and renewing relations with the people upon whom the monastery had long depended. These developments were encouraging, but the adventurers had unfinished business with the monastery’s leadership. Their previous investigations had exposed terrible experiments conducted upon unwilling subjects, and they were not inclined simply to forgive those responsible.

An Audience with Longinus and Pilus

The following day, the adventurers entered the Monastery of the Two Winds and received a formal welcome from its leaders, Longinus and Pilus. The meeting began under a cloud of suspicion: The party demanded answers concerning the monastery’s experiments, the disappearance of villagers, and the monstrous transformations they had discovered.

To their surprise, the monks did not simply deny the accusations. Longinus acknowledged that the monastery had been conducting experiments designed to create powerful warriors capable of opposing Sargava and its agents. He argued that the work had been undertaken out of desperation, in pursuit of a greater purpose: preserving the monastery, protecting the surrounding region, and developing forces capable of resisting a powerful enemy.

The adventurers pressed him about the use of unwilling subjects. Longinus conceded that the victims had not knowingly volunteered, but maintained that the broader struggle demanded difficult choices. His explanations did little to remove the moral implications of what had occurred. Nevertheless, the party discovered that the monks appeared sincere in their opposition to Sargava. Both sides wanted to prevent the Torch of the Burning Sky from falling into Sargavan hands. For the moment, that common objective offered a basis for cooperation.

The Secret of Castle Korstull

Longinus and Pilus revealed that the monastery possessed a means of overcoming the terrible supernatural flames surrounding Castle Korstull. The monks produced a remarkable magical sphere containing swirling clouds and fire. This device, they explained, could suppress the magical conflagration that had rendered the ruined castle inaccessible.

The revelation substantially changed the party’s prospects. Until now, reaching the castle and recovering the Torch of the Burning Sky had appeared extraordinarily dangerous, perhaps impossible. With the monks’ assistance, the adventurers might finally have a means of entering the ruins.

The monastery’s leaders made their own intentions clear. They did not wish to possess the Torch. Rather, they hoped the party would recover it and return it to Seaquen, where scholars could study the artifact and prevent its use by Sargava.

The proposal did not erase the monastery’s crimes, but it offered the adventurers a practical way forward. Their mission, and their temporary alliance with the monks, had acquired a new urgency.

Rewards and Farewells

Before departing Eresh, the adventurers made final preparations and spoke with several acquaintances among the villagers. These conversations were not entirely cheerful. The consequences of the monastery’s experiments still weighed upon those whose friends and loved ones had disappeared.

The party also received gifts and supplies in recognition of its efforts. Among the more unusual rewards was a polished green stone vessel capable of producing a restorative draught. Its contents would replenish over time, providing a valuable resource for the dangers ahead.

Having secured the means to approach Castle Korstull, the adventurers prepared to leave Eresh behind. Their next destination lay deep within the jungle, where the Torch of the Burning Sky might still await discovery.

Key Developments and Discoveries

• The party survived an encounter with dangerous dinosaurs during its return journey through the Mwangi jungle.
• Eresh is recovering. The monastery has reopened relations with the village, and daily life is beginning to return to normal.
• Longinus acknowledged the monastery’s experiments, including the use of unwilling subjects in attempts to create warriors capable of resisting Ragesia.
• The monks share the party’s immediate objective: preventing the Torch of the Burning Sky from falling into Ragesian hands.
• A magical sphere offers a way to suppress the flames surrounding Castle Korstull, potentially allowing the adventurers to enter the fortress.
• The party received rewards and supplies, including a magical vessel that replenishes restorative draughts.
• The search for the Torch continues, with Castle Korstull now the immediate objective.

Preparations for the Journey

With the Monastery of the Two Winds temporarily allied to their cause, the adventurers prepared for an expedition into the ruined fortress of Castle Korstull. The party devoted considerable attention to its equipment, magical capabilities, and the dangers that might await. The monks provided what assistance they could, including information about the fortress and the means by which the party might overcome the supernatural flames surrounding it. They also offered an extraordinary means of transportation: Powerful air elementals had agreed to carry the adventurers through the skies, depositing them near Castle Korstull before returning to the monastery. Although the arrangement offered a swift means of reaching their destination, it was decidedly a one-way journey. The party would have to make its own arrangements for returning.

The Fires of Castle Korstull

Carried aloft by the elementals, the adventurers crossed the jungle and approached the site of the ancient fortress. The devastation surrounding Castle Korstull was immediately apparent.

An enormous column of supernatural fire rose from the ruins, its heat and power having transformed the surrounding landscape. Vegetation had been scorched away, waterways altered, and great expanses of terrain blasted into desolation. The fortress itself was largely obscured by the flames. From the air, the adventurers surveyed the surrounding countryside, searching for possible approaches, hidden dangers, and evidence of other visitors. They discovered that the castle was not nearly as isolated as they might have hoped.

Several encampments and other signs of occupation were visible around the ruins. One appeared to be a substantial military position, while another was a smaller fortified camp concealed within the jungle. The adventurers suspected that the larger camp belonged to Sargavan forces, perhaps sent to recover the same artifact they sought.

Their suspicions introduced a new complication: the party might not be the only group searching for the Torch of the Burning Sky.

The Dead Around the Castle

Further reconnaissance revealed another unsettling feature of the ruins. Undead creatures wandered the devastated approaches to Castle Korstull, apparently oblivious to much of their surroundings.

The adventurers considered whether they might bypass the creatures through stealth, invisibility, or protective magic rather than engage them in unnecessary combat. The unnatural flames remained the greatest obstacle, however, and the magical device supplied by the monastery would have to be employed with care. But the party also understood that suppressing the fire might create an opportunity for everyone in the area—not merely themselves. If the Sargavans were observing the castle, they might exploit any opening created by the adventurers.

Before attempting entry, the party decided to investigate the other inhabitants of the region.

A Voice from the Jungle

Attention turned to the smaller, concealed encampment. Rather than immediately attacking, the party approached cautiously and attempted to establish contact. Magic helped its scouts remain hidden while they investigated the fortifications and the people occupying them.

The inhabitants proved to be a band of gnomes who had established a makeshift stronghold in the jungle. The initial meeting was tense. The gnomes were understandably suspicious of strangers approaching their camp, particularly in a region where Sargavan soldiers and other dangerous creatures were active. Through conversation and a degree of diplomacy, however, the adventurers persuaded them that they were not enemies. The gnomes eventually welcomed their visitors and offered food and drink.

Their rough encampment was equipped with defensive positions, lookout platforms, and improvised fortifications. Although the occupants appeared somewhat disreputable, they had proven resourceful in surviving near the cursed fortress.

An Unlikely Alliance

The gnomes explained that they had their own interest in Castle Korstull. They hoped to enter the ruins and recover whatever valuables might remain inside. Unfortunately, the magical fire and the presence of Sargavan forces made such an undertaking extremely dangerous.

The gnomes also described some of the other hazards in the surrounding jungle, including strange frog-like creatures that had apparently abducted one of their companions. Not all the nearby camps were genuine, either. Some had been deliberately constructed as decoys, part of the gnomes’ efforts to mislead and harass the Sargavans.

The party now faced an interesting question. The gnomes were potential allies against the Sargavans, but their primary interest in the castle appeared to be plunder rather than the larger war. Cooperation might improve the adventurers’ chances of reaching the fortress. It might also introduce additional complications, particularly if both groups laid claim to the same treasures.

The Enemy of My Enemy

Discussion eventually turned to the Sargavan encampment. The gnomes had little affection for its occupants, and the party had ample reasons of its own to oppose Sargava. Nevertheless, there was disagreement over the wisdom of attacking the soldiers directly. Some favored avoiding the camp entirely and attempting to infiltrate the castle without attracting attention. Others argued that the Sargavans would almost certainly exploit any opportunity to enter the fortress once the supernatural flames were suppressed. Leaving an armed enemy behind them might be an invitation to disaster.

There were also questions of principle. The prospect of attacking unsuspecting enemies under cover of darkness was not equally appealing to every member of the group. By the end of the discussion, the adventurers recognized that they had several possible courses of action, none without risk. The ruined castle remained their ultimate destination, but the Sargavan expedition had become an immediate obstacle.

Key Developments and Discoveries

• The party reached 10th level, reflecting its growing experience and capabilities.
• Air elementals transported the adventurers to Castle Korstull, providing swift passage from the Monastery of the Two Winds.
• Castle Korstull remains surrounded by supernatural fire, which has devastated the surrounding landscape.
• Other expeditions are already present. A Ragesian military encampment and a smaller gnomish stronghold were discovered near the ruins.
• Undead creatures wander the castle’s approaches, presenting another potential obstacle to infiltration.
• The party established peaceful contact with the gnomes, who are interested in recovering treasure from the fortress.
• The gnomes have been harassing the Ragesians, using deception and false camps to frustrate their activities.
• The adventurers must decide how to deal with the Ragesian force before entering the castle.

A Plan Takes Shape

The adventurers’ negotiations with the gnome inhabitants of the jungle had presented them with a potentially useful opportunity. The gnomes had little affection for the Sargavan soldiers encamped near Castle Korstull, and both groups recognized that the military expedition represented an obstacle to their respective ambitions. For the adventurers, the stakes were considerably higher than the recovery of ancient treasure. The Torch of the Burning Sky might still lie somewhere within Castle Korstull, and allowing it to fall into Sargavan hands could have disastrous consequences.

The party therefore considered a preemptive strike against the enemy encampment. A direct assault against an established military position was dangerous, but the adventurers possessed several advantages: powerful magic, the ability to operate invisibly, and the assistance of their new gnomish acquaintances.

They settled upon a nighttime attack. The plan called for the adventurers to exploit darkness and surprise, with Po employing magic to extinguish campfires and deprive the defenders of illumination. Those who could see in darkness would then move against the disoriented soldiers. The gnomes, meanwhile, could contribute missile fire from concealed positions. The result promised to be a distinctly unpleasant evening for the Sargavans.

The Assault Begins

The adventurers approached the Sargavan encampment under cover of darkness. The enemy position consisted of tents, wagons, defensive obstacles, and areas where soldiers and their mounts were gathered. Its occupants appeared reasonably secure, evidently not expecting a coordinated attack from their unseen adversaries.

That confidence was misplaced.

As the assault commenced, arrows began striking the encampment from the darkness. The gnomes’ initial volleys caused confusion among the defenders, who struggled to identify the direction and nature of the attack. The adventurers exploited the disorder, advancing from concealed positions and employing spells against the exposed soldiers. The Sargavans scrambled to their feet, sought cover behind wagons and tents, and attempted to organize a defense. But their confusion was compounded by the difficulty of locating enemies who could strike from darkness or concealment. The camp was rapidly transformed from a place of relative security into a chaotic battlefield.

The B Team Goes to War

The fighting intensified as the party pressed its advantage. Arandar advanced against the defenders, while Ono entered the fray with the formidable martial abilities of a seasoned monk. Wraith moved against enemies attempting to respond to the attack, and Titus maneuvered through the darkness, exploiting his aerial mobility and magical abilities. Vondram added destructive spellcasting to the assault, attacking clustered opponents and creating additional chaos.

The defenders suffered mounting casualties. Some soldiers were struck down before they could effectively respond, while others attempted to rally around their officers and better-armed companions. The Sargavans were not without resources, however. Armed guards, heavily equipped fighters, and more capable combatants began emerging from the encampment. The adventurers discovered that their opponents were considerably more numerous and organized than the initial confusion might have suggested. Nevertheless, their coordinated assault continued to take a heavy toll.

Fire, Lightning, and Steel

As the battle developed, the adventurers unleashed increasingly powerful attacks. Lightning struck soldiers attempting to defend the camp, while magical effects impeded movement and complicated efforts to organize a counterattack. Ono engaged enemies at close quarters, repeatedly demonstrating that an unarmed combatant could be every bit as dangerous as a warrior wielding steel.

Elsewhere, the fighting drew additional guards into the conflict. Some attempted to flank the adventurers, while others sought to bring ranged weapons to bear against targets moving through the encampment. The party’s use of concealment, battlefield control, and powerful offensive magic helped prevent the defenders from concentrating their forces effectively. A particularly destructive fireball tore through a group of Ragesians, inflicting devastating injuries and further weakening their resistance. Despite these losses, the surviving soldiers continued to fight.

A Battle Not Yet Won

The attack had clearly inflicted terrible damage upon the Sargavan expedition. Numerous defenders had fallen, their camp was in disorder, and the adventurers had demonstrated that even an established military position could be vulnerable to a well-coordinated assault. Yet the fighting was not over. More capable opponents were still resisting, and the party continued to maneuver against armed soldiers within the encampment. For all their success, the adventurers had not yet secured the position. Nor had they entered Castle Korstull.

The magical fires surrounding the fortress remained an obstacle, and the ultimate objective—the recovery of the Torch of the Burning Sky—still lay ahead. The battle against the Sargavans would have to be resolved before the party could turn its full attention toward the mysteries of the ruined castle.

Key Developments and Discoveries

• The party launched a nighttime attack against the Ragesian encampment, hoping to eliminate a dangerous rival before entering Castle Korstull.
• The gnomes supported the attack, employing ranged weapons and taking advantage of their familiarity with the surrounding jungle.
• Darkness, invisibility, and surprise played important roles in the party’s battle plan.
• The Ragesian defenders were initially thrown into confusion, but eventually organized resistance.
• Arendar, Ono, Titus, Wraith, Vondram, and Po contributed to the assault through a combination of martial attacks, spellcasting, and tactical maneuvering.
• The Ragesians suffered substantial casualties, including losses from powerful magical attacks.
• The battle remained unresolved at the end of the recording, with surviving defenders still resisting.
• Castle Korstull and the Torch of the Burning Sky remain the party’s ultimate objectives.

Where Things Stand

The B Team has committed itself to open conflict with the Ragesian expedition near Castle Korstull.

Supported by its new gnomish allies, the party has inflicted heavy losses upon the enemy and thrown the encampment into disarray.

But victory is not yet assured. The surviving Ragesians continue to resist, while the supernatural flames of Castle Korstull burn nearby.

Before the adventurers can pursue the Torch of the Burning Sky, they must finish the battle they have begun.