View source for Session 4 - Siege of Castle Cragmaw

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    <div class="infobox-row"><span class="label">Session Date:</span> <span class="value">{{{sessiondate|02/02/25}}}</span></div>
    <div class="infobox-row"><span class="label">Author:</span> <span class="value">{{{author|Sage (Old)}}}</span></div>
    <div class="infobox-row"><span class="label">Location:</span> <span class="value">{{{location|[[Castle Redmount|Castle Cragmaw]]}}}</span></div>
    <div class="infobox-row"><span class="label">Previous Session:</span> <span class="value">{{{previoussession|[[Session 3 - Hail to the Chief]]}}}</span></div>
    <div class="infobox-row"><span class="label">Next Session:</span> <span class="value">{{{nextsession|[[Session 5 - The Spider's Web]]}}}</span></div>
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The past few days have been very eventful for my new friends. After their victory over [[Chief Dohma Raskovar]], they made the wise decision to rest in the shelter of [[Wyvern Tor]]. During which time, the parasite that calls itself [[Nuraqis]] whispered words of poison into the ear of its victim, Serena, even going so far as to send her to taunt me. Young Bibi was also plagued by the whistling of some creature in the night, I do not know the exact nature of this beast, but I have sent word to my friends to join me in [[Phandalin]] and help the poor girl. 

Hoping to rid [[Phandalin]] of its raider problems once and for all, the ratcatchers move to clear out the old towers of Castle Cragmaw. On reflection of my past journals, I have found that the fortress was once known as [[Castle Redmount]], for it's historic view of the smoking and overflowing [[Wyrmsmoke Mountains]]. The volcanoes in that mountain range have since become dormant, but I still prefer the old name to the rubbish that the [[Orcs]] forced upon it. 

The group made a bold decision that I'm not sure I would have made myself, attacking the castle in the middle of the day without any real numbers advantage, and yet still managed to claim the castle for themselves after a long and intense battle in the courtyard. Many of the most interesting occurrences to me took place after the dust had settled, with Bibi finding a card from the famed [[Deck of Many Things]] and earning herself the attention of an infernal creature. She is becoming truly popular with all the hidden nasties of this world.

My friend Vershan also found himself in the presence of [[The Herald]] herself, as mysterious as she is powerful, she bestowed upon him gifts from their Queen and named him her Envoy. An accomplishment to be proud of - though I am still unsure if the man is capable of feeling pride.


The ratcatchers journey back to [[Phandalin]] was almost more eventful than their assault on the old fortress, returning to a cave entrance they had noticed days before and discovering an old [[Caelian War Golem]] buried in the soil. For some reason, which is still lost to me, they chose to remove the entire door to the power module, rather than take a rubbing of it to show me later. They kept the depleted power crystal on hand for me to inspect, which was likely a good idea as I'd rather it be in their possession than someone else's.

After claiming the crystal, and door, they intended so seek out the [[Thayan|Thay]] that had made camp at [[Old Owl Well]] and remove him from the area. It seems someone got to him first however, and left behind a blood signed calling card. The handwriting on these blood signed notes is unsettlingly familiar, and will require more of my attention from this point on. 

For Serena in particular, the efforts of the last few days did not go unrewarded, as [[Harbin Stonecleaver]] entrusted [[Phandalin]] and its surrounding lands in her hands, which seemed to pair quite nicely with the ruined castle they had claimed only hours before. As a newly appointed noble of [[The Coastal Protectorate]], Serena chose to name Gorlock as her Knight of the Realm. I refused to accept that such a responsibility would be handed over without formalities, and so I insisted upon knighting him in the ways of my homeland, ensuring that enough of the townsfolk were witness to hopefully bind him to his words.


From this point on, my new friends fell into their usual habits of unloading all of their quandaries onto me. Solas asked about his invitation to this so-called 'Dragon Cult', which I informed him not to take too seriously and to know that they'd likely be in touch with him again and Bibi mentioned the oddities that seem to be chasing her down of late.

My wrist tires from all this, I shall leave my notes at this for now, perhaps I shall make an addendum to it at a later date.