> [!infobox|wikipedia] > ![[Val Norren - Streets.png]] > # Basic Information > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Session # | 37 | > Play Date | 2025-09-06 | > Players | Deathmouse<br>JC<br>Kiwi<br>Lacer<br>Vael | > Party Level | 8 | > # Session Details > Attribute | Details | > ---|---| > Date | [[Campaigns/The Bloody Nails/Calendar/Year - 2507/03 - Water, 3rd.png\|5th Water, 3rd - 2507]] | > Location | [[Val Noren]] > Characters | [[King Marius Noren]]<br>[[Barak Stormrider]] | ## Summary Following their harrowing escape from the betrayal of [[General Korvas]], the party found temporary sanctuary within the rebel-held sector of [[Val Noren]]. Reunited with [[Barak Stormrider]] and the surviving members of [[The Mawbreakers]], the group took a brief moment to tend to their wounds and the city's suffering. While [[Kai]] and [[Ryo]] assisted the overwhelmed healer [[Illaris Sharin]] at Saint Avelines, a newly found ally, [[Berberis]], revealed crucial intelligence gathered during a daring scouting mission. Disguised as a weasel, he had witnessed the [[Dread General Blackmarsh]] executing his own officers and commanding the mysterious "[[The Red Priests|Red Priests]]" to accelerate their timeline, hinting at a terrifying escalation in the siege. Armed with this information, the party was granted an audience with [[King Marius Noren]], "The Reclaimer." Far from the distant monarch they expected, they found a kind ruler turning his Keep into a shelter for the displaced. The King, concerned by the report of the Red Priests, ordered the defensive barricades reinforced. His instincts proved prescient; that evening, a dense fog rolled over the river, concealing a wave of shuffling figures. Though they initially appeared to be townsfolk, Berberis identified the unnatural gait of the undead just moments before they threw themselves at the defences, detonating in massive fireballs that shattered the gates. A brutal skirmish ensued as hundreds of Imperial soldiers poured through the breach. Utilizing the choke point and their combined might, the party and the rebel defenders repelled the assault, though lives were lost in the chaos. However, the victory was short-lived. As the smoke cleared, a breathless runner arrived from the Keep with devastating news: the explosive undead assault had been nothing but a diversion. While the defenders were occupied at the barricade, Imperial forces had infiltrated the Keep and kidnapped the King. ## Details ### Reunion and Recovery * **Sanctuary:** After retreating behind the defensive barricades of [[Val Noren]], [[Barak Stormrider]] led the exhausted party to a garrison to regroup. * **The Mawbreakers:** The party enjoyed a heartfelt reunion with old allies, including [[Ari]], [[Lirien]], and [[Jorund Ironsight]]. * **Humanitarian Aid:** [[Kai]] asked to assist the wounded. Directed to Saint Avelines, he, [[Ryo]], and Lirien found the chapel converted into a crowded triage centre. * **The Healer:** They met [[Illaris Sharin]], the grey-skinned drow healer from the Mawbreakers' ship, *The Albatross*, who was tirelessly tending to the casualties of the siege. ### The Scout's Intel * **Timeline Reveal:** It was revealed that earlier that evening, while [[Barak Stormrider]] was launching the distraction to rescue the party, a newly found ally, [[Berberis]], had been conducting independent reconnaissance. * **Infiltration:** Using *Wild Shape* to take the form of a weasel, Berberis infiltrated an Imperial meeting. * **Eavesdropping:** He observed the [[Dread General Blackmarsh]] receiving reports of chaos at [[Point Blackrock]] and Hobgoblin attacks on reinforcement columns. * **The Execution:** Enraged by the delays, the Dread General decapitated the reporting Captain. Before departing, he ordered for word to be sent to "[[The Red Priests]]" to "accelerate their timeline." * **Debrief:** Back in the present safety of the garrison, Berberis shared this alarming intelligence with the group. ### Audience with the King * **The Keep:** The following day, [[Barak Stormrider]] escorted the party to the Keep of [[Val Noren]] to meet the leader of the rebellion. * **The King:** They were introduced to [[King Marius Noren]], known as "The Reclaimer." He was found actively ensuring the safety of displaced citizens housing within the Keep's halls. * **Strategy Meeting:** The group discussed the stalemate at the river barricades. The party shared the intel regarding the delayed Imperial reinforcements, offering a glimmer of hope. * **The Warning:** The mention of [[The Red Priests]] deeply concerned the King. Fearing a magical escalation, he suggested bolstering the barricade defences immediately. ### The Assault on the Barricade * **The Watch:** That evening, the party took positions on rooftops overlooking the barricade. A dense fog began to obscure the bridge. * **The Deception:** A crowd emerged from the fog. Initially, they appeared to be civilians, and a rebel soldier claimed to recognize one. * **The Attack:** [[Berberis]] noticed the unnatural movement of the crowd and raised the alarm. The figures were revealed to be undead. They sprinted to the barricade and detonated in massive, suicidal fireballs, destroying the makeshift gates. * **The Battle:** Approximately 500 Imperial soldiers charged the breach. The party engaged in a fierce defence. Despite the overwhelming numbers, the strong defensive position allowed them to hold the line and eventually repel the attackers. ### The Aftermath * **Victory:** The assault was quelled, though rebel defenders suffered casualties. * **The Twist:** A runner arrived from the Keep, panic-stricken. * **The Kidnapping:** The runner revealed that the undead assault was a calculated distraction. With the bulk of the forces defending the wall, Imperial agents had slipped into the Keep and successfully kidnapped [[King Marius Noren]].