AD&D Session 52 - Light and Darkness
24th of Fessuran, 835 PD
The adventurers retreated to Koro's den to recuperate from their previous battle. The following morning, Koro collected the group along with her brother, escorting them first to the local observatory and library before heading to the royal palace for an official debrief.
At the palace, Queen Leylas, her consort Koana, Essek, and another advisor convened to discuss the recent events involving the cleared giant stronghold. The queen expressed her hope that the displaced giants could reclaim their ancestral home. During the proceedings, tensions rose when Essek was asked to explain why Koro had apprehended him after their teleportation return. A heated argument ensued, prompting Whisper to cast a Silence spell, momentarily silencing Essek and unnerving the room until she dispelled it.
As the discussion shifted to the magical artifact Essek had taken from the giant's citadel, magical darkness abruptly filled the room, accompanied by the startled cry of the queen. Koro swiftly dispelled the darkness, but the artifact had vanished along with the queen's personal guard, who was later revealed to have been under an illusion spell, with the actuall guard watching over a statue, obviously under a magical spell.
Koana then relayed unsettling news of another Dynasty group returning with a stolen beacon and four traumatized children, victims of psychological harm at the hands of Empire mages. Among the rescued, one individual persistently asked about a missing child named Aleric.
After the meeting concluded, the adventurers informed the displaced stone giants of the situation. However, the giants resolved to reclaim their homeland without the queen's assistance, asserting that the "small folk" were too weak to aid them. Realizing the urgency of the giants' intentions, the group rushed to the nearest scout camp to send an immediate flying message to the queen, as Koro had exhausted her Sending spells.