RECAP: War of the Burning Sky, 12-7-25

Summary of Ongoing Combat and Situation

• The session begins with a recap of a violent confrontation among dwarves at a council or gathering. This event is described as a “bloodbath,” with multiple factions and individuals engaged in lethal conflict.
  • Key figures such as Lady Timor, Duke Gallo, and Lord Iz have escaped a dangerous area, while others remain embroiled in fighting.
  • A crucial tactical moment was Titus casting webs on King Steppengard, Lady Namin, Lord Dashgoban, and much of the King’s Guard, effectively immobilizing them for approximately 80 minutes, neutralizing the king’s immediate threat.
  • Several characters have fled or vanished, such as Lady Placcaro and Nina Glibglammer, who escaped after an attempted capture.
  • The remaining combatants are scattered mostly near the front door area, where house guards, servants, and nobles continue to fight fiercely. Some guards are bloodied but not engaged in combat, possibly due to orders or injuries.

Strategic Decisions and Party Movements

• The chefs present are sent out to find clerics or priests to tend to wounded individuals in the aftermath of the battle.

• Vondram observes the chaotic hallway, noting one on affected servant bound and screaming in rage, and hostile house guards about to attack players, leading to him acting by casting spells.
• A house guard is incinerated by a powerful fire ray (28 damage), while the remaining guard prepares to attack but is subdued by ranged attacks from Wraith using blunt arrows to render him unconscious without killing him.

Battlefield Status and Key NPC Conditions

• King Steppengard slipped unconscious after being subdued by webbing and is under guard watch with binds to prevent further violence.
• Lord Dashgoban is unconscious and bleeding heavily but stabilized through magical healing by Titus.
• Lady Namin is confirmed dead, having been brutally attacked by the King himself.
• Baron Magadon, the wealthiest noble and potential heir, has died by apparent suicide, with severe self-inflicted wounds.
• Lady Dene is unconscious but alive, being tended by guards and healers.
• The remaining nobles and guards begin regrouping, carrying the wounded and dead to safer areas such as the throne room and privy area for treatment and protection.

Political and Strategic Consequences

When King Steppengard wakes, he is deeply distraught, mourning the destruction and loss caused by the recent events and his own actions under influence of “that creature.”

Duke Gallo is encouraged by the king to assume the throne, but he refuses, insisting formal procedures must be followed despite the king’s abdication desire. Many dwarven lords and minor nobles are dead or incapacitated, severely weakening the kingdom’s leadership and military command structure.

At the same time, the party and Lord Iz (who as by default assumed military command in Steppengard’s stead) realizes the Sargavans, an invading force, are at the foot of the Alydi Pass—a strategic mountain pass that will be open in approximately three weeks, allowing enemy forces to advance. The Sargavan V Corps, numbering between 3,000 and 5,000 soldiers, is poised to invade, having fought through jungles and rivers with the Osibu Mwangi (local guerrilla fighters) harassing them but not decisively defeating them.

Geopolitical Context and Allies

• Lady Timor confirms she has sent intelligence to Princess Shaalosha, an elven ally, seeking possible reinforcement in the form of elven ranged troops to help defend the Alydi Pass.
• The elven cavalry under Lord Shaaladel is engaged in holding back a different Sargavan corps to the north, creating a multi-front conflict.
• The political and military leadership is in flux, with Lord Iz emerging as the de facto military commander trying to organize the fragmented forces to meet the imminent Sargavan threat.

Investigation and Pursuit of the Chamberlain Nina Glibglamer

The party decides to investigate the Lord Chamberlain’s quarters, suspecting her involvement in the chaos. Upon entry, they discover a surreal, purple-hued, otherworldly environment with spongy floors and strange fungal growths reacting to breath, suggesting magical or fey influence. A ghostly white hand floats and points directions, guiding or misleading the party through the chamberlain’s lair. Titus is affected by a pollen-like substance emitted by the fungal growth, inducing confusion and visual impairment, requiring group aid to stabilize and prevent self-harm. The environment is eerie and hostile, with signs of mind-affecting magic and illusions.

Encounter with Magical Defenses and the Chamberlain

The group confronts magical constructs including giant flesh-like hands and a large eye embedded in the wall th at reacts defensively to attacks, including rays and fireballs. The eye absorbs some damage but sheds a tear of oily substance, indicating resilience and unnatural origin. The giant hand is physically tangible and can be damaged, with Arendar successfully severing a finger, spilling orange blood and temporarily disabling it.

Nina Glibglamer appears as a spectral figure surrounded by magical circles and illusory heads attempting to bite or ensnare the party. Physical attacks do partial damage due to her semi-incorporeal state; radiant damage (Searing Light) is more effective but still resisted by spell resistance. The chamberlain taunts the party, attempting mental manipulation and beckoning them into dangerous areas.

Combat with the Chamberlain’s Minions and Environment

The party faces an enormous centipede-like creature that attempts to bite and poison Arandar and others. The creature’s poison causes confusion and requires multiple will saves to resist. The party uses coordinated ranged attacks and magic, including Fireball and Heavenly Fire (a divine ray), to counter the chamberlain and her defenses. The chamberlain’s lair contains emaciated and crazed dwarves seemingly under her influence or affected by the poison and magic, adding to the sense of dread and urgency.

Ono performs an acrobatic maneuver using Wind Jump to leap onto the giant hand and then across to a position behind the chamberlain, evading attacks and gaining an advantageous position. The party debates the best approach to dealing with the chamberlain, agreeing on cautious ranged attacks first to avoid walking into traps or mental domination.

Key Characters and Status Table

Character	Status	Notes
King Steppengard	Unconscious, subdued	Poisoned, subdued by webbing, restrained to prevent harm
Duke Gallo	Alive, active	Refuses crown
Lord Dashgoban	Unconscious, stabilized	Bleeding, poisoned, unconscious but alive
Lady Timor	Injured, stable	Escaped initial fray, condition uncertain but alive
Lady Namin	Dead	Killed by the King under madness
Baron Magadon	Dead (suicide)	Wealthiest lord, severe self-inflicted wounds
Baron Rego	Dead	Killed during bloodbath
Nina Glibglamer	Active antagonist	Fey/magical entity, chamberlain, apparent master of illusions and mind magic

Among the Bandu Council of Nine, no less than three dead: Namin, Magadon, and Rego.

Dashgoban, Timor, and Dene injured, some (Dashgoban and Dene) grievously.

Gallo, wounded but not seriously. Iz managed to get through the entire fracas unscathed, and has nominally accepted commission (largely by default) as Field Marshal of the Bandu. And the King… he is a broken dwarf. Between bouts of sobbing and begging someone – anyone – to take the crown, Steppengard, whatever happens, is unlikely to ever lead the remainder of the Council in Bresk again.

As far as lesser Bandu nobles, the list of causalities is long; among the dead…

• Colonel Keghammer, head of King’s Cavalry
• Earl Greythane
• Earl Coinrock
• Baron Coppergrog
• Baron Forgefall
• Baron Orecoat, head of the King’s Mines
• Major Vincunias, Earl of Artillery

My some miracle, Wraith managed to knock Exchequer Coalview unconscious. He is damaged but alive.

Key Conclusions

• The political structure of the dwarven kingdom is in crisis due to the assassination attempt, poisonings, and the Saravan invasion looming imminently.
• The chamberlain, Nina Glibglamer, is a powerful fey entity or magical creature responsible for much of the chaos, using illusions and mind control to destabilize the leadership.
• The Sargavan V Corps is poised to invade through the Alydi Pass within weeks, making the political and military stability of the dwarven kingdom critical.
• The king is psychologically and emotionally devastated, offering the crown to Duke Gallo but feeling unworthy, adding instability to leadership succession.
• Allies such as the elves are being informed and may assist, but strategic coordination and timely action are essential to prevent further calamity.