35th session

After learning that a plague was spreading, the Swords of Drahar decided it was time to act. They were determined to find the assassin before he struck again. Using locate object and the map provided by the thieves guild, they tried to get some information. As it turns out, the dagger they were looking for were not in the sewers, but instead inside the church. Hurrying inside, they narrowed the field down to one room (High Priest room) where Trevor, his two guards and three alcolytes were present. Torn was pretty sure that it was the alcolytes who had the dagger, so he quietly maneuvered into position and wrote a note telling the others to beware of them.

Truxas went to confront them, demanding that they empty their pockets. As soon as he did that, he was hit by a vision of the guards changing shapes and attacking. A split second later, it happened. The guards changed into Rakshasas and attacked the Swords.

Fortunately, the Swords had (after a rough start) little problem dispatching the grey Rakshasas. After the fight, half of the church gathered together to praise the Swords.

Some of the priests from the martial wing of the church (those backing Gundark) commented that Gundark would not have been a passive watcher to the fight, but instead brought glory to Kord.

With the assassins dead, the Swords decided to investigate the sewers, and see if there was more assassins. They found what must have been the assassins hideout, and some communication that indicated that the killing of the High Priest was merely a diversion in order to keep the Swords occupied.

On the way back, the Swords experienced that the people of Drahar were getting more and more edgy. Buildings were burning all around, in order to stop the spread of the plague. People were also very frustrated that the almighty heroes couldn't help them, and started to thrown rotten food at Gnoguh. Gnoguh lost his temper, which made the man crap his pants. Despite being unharmed, he accused Gnoguh and the Swords of attacking him afterwards.

Torn believes that the Army of the White Ruin is behind it, both the assassinations and the plague, in order to occupy the Swords so that they can launch an attack on Drahar. Perhaps striking a deal with Blackkeep.

Either way, they all agreed that there was little time to waste. While casting Consult Oracle with Trevor (or rather helping him), they learned that the source of the plague was located (currently) at an Inn called the Happy Nymph. Torn and Carric stayed behind to help further with the ritual, while Gnoguh and Truxas went to "check out" the Inn. Via the Consult Oracle ritual, they also learned two other interesting things.

1. In order to stop the plague, one would have to kill the source and perform a specific magical ritual.
2. Knowledge of the ritual in question is located in a place called Zi'karth, the Black Fortress
   

Arriving at the Inn, they found a few locals and 3 guests who had rented rooms. Gnoguh turned inside out the pantry (but payed for the damages) and after having done that, he went to check on the guests. To make a long story short (one involving knocking out a poor hapless fellow), one of the guests turned out to be a Dracolich, and a very long and hard battle followed. At the end, the undead dragon fled, being at a disadvantage. Or maybe surviving was paramount to it?