Session 9: Death in the Dark
General Summary
Chapter 8: Death in the Dark
Upon successfully defeating the Babau in the Underdark beneath Maplemoor City, the Mighty ASSes returned to the surface. While Gaiden remained in the Grove to attend the still delirious, the rest of the party sought out Captain Estienne Talbrooke, filling him in on the details of what they encountered. Estienne in particular was concerned about the meeting with the drow elf in the tunnels, as he feared this would be the first sign of a Casaerdrin incursion since the party's initial report about their events at the Snakefort. He earnestly thanked them for their assistance, and also promised to put a guard out to protect Gaiden from anyone intending the Orc harm. In addition, he removed the ban on the party being allowed to depart the city, and shared that he planned to request that a AAA group come to provide their assistance - his preference would be the The Golden Shield.
The ASSes then returned to the AAA to collect their reward, which turned out to be 60 gp each, as well as a city-sponsored voucher for a 25% discount on one magic item. They went across the way to Brymbor's Mystical Smitery, viewed the wares, and decided to think on a few things. Brooklyn did place an order for a Scroll of Featherfall, which would be ready for her on the morrow. The party then split to pursue their own interests: Indra to case out the home/business of the Argus' Augury soothsayer that Cassian assigned her; Torcanimir to check in on Gaiden; and Brooklyn and Mia visiting the snobbish half-elf owner of Hourglass Potions to purchase a Potion of Healing.
Regrouping at the The Blushing Fox Inn, the group sat down and attempted to suss out more details about Brooklyn's past, including by Indra offering - and then not sharing - a similar detail of her own life. Afterwards, the ASSes resumed their solitary activities until the evening. While Brooklyn worked at re-summoning Edyn, Indra (headed out to complete her contract for Cassian) and Torcanimir (headed out to check on Gaiden once more) ran into each other in the hallway. They set off together to make sure Gaiden was all right, then Indra slipped away without telling Torcanimir.
At Argus' Augury, Indra slipped inside and poured the Potion of Poison into the available wine decanter and slipped back out. She came across Cassian, who was watching her work. He confessed that this had been a test, and the Potion of Poison had actually been a Potion of Healing. He approved of her methods and means, and gave her an armband that would indicate she was a member of the Silenza League. Satisfied, she went back to the inn.
Meanwhile, Torcanimir had asked Brooklyn to place Alarm across Indra's door and tell him when Indra returned. Brooklyn agreed, albeit with confusion, and she was mentally alerted when Indra returned. Hearing the door slam shut, Torcanimir confronted Brooklyn about why she didn't tell him about their companion's return. Brooklyn pointed out she figured she could tell him about it in the morning, and he left, mildly dissatisfied with the response. Meanwhile everyone turned in for the night.
BROOKLYN BREAKOUT SESSION
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In her dreams, Broolyn was once more seeing through the eyes of another being. This time she hunted down another cleric, and the victim backed away, demanding to know what the hunting figure wants. She then hears a ragged voice respond, "I want... freedom," and then the hunter chokes the half-elf to death.
The dream then transitioned to the familiar dark room, and the odd figure Brooklyn had faced before and knew only as Kit greets her. After lamenting how time passes differently, the Kit describes his home as a place of torture surrounded by mists and lost to time. He invites her to join into a game where they could learn more about each other, where whomever rolled higher would ask a question that the other must answer true.
- Question 1 (Kit): How do you feel about the Divinities? (Answer: They're cool, they're distant strangers and she is accepting of them.)
- Question 2 (Brooklyn): How have I been punished, in reference to the previous meeting's topics? (Answer: Kit casts an augury, and determines that in her past there was tragedy and pain caused by those close to her. And intersecting at that same time, loss of someone close to her. In summary, betrayal and loss of all those close to her.)
- Question 3 (Brooklyn): Who is the person who is killing people?
This question led to a counter question, where Kit asked if Brooklyn knew whom she was killing. When she said no, he described them as the followers, the believers, the perpetuators of the lies of the Divinities. In answer to her question, Kit replied that they were Sennacheriv. As Brooklyn began to fade from the dream, she asked to play this game again in the future, and Kit agreed as well.
In the middle of the night, the city suddenly rang with warning bells and fires broke out across the city. The ASSes assembled and rushed outdoors, where they found a party of drow and duergar slaying soldiers and burning buildings. Seeing the party, the invaders lunged into the attack, and the encounter became a frantic battle. In the middle of combat, however, the drow that Torcanimir had assisted in the tunnels interrupted the combat and ordered the others to back down. She specifically called out to Torcanimir to inform him that her debt had been paid, and then she and her soldiers resumed attacking the city.
Deciding the best option was to abandon the city to its fate, the ASSes began to flee through the market, but were accosted by a large reptilian creature and a man with snakes for arms. The hectic battle that followed resulted in Mia getting knocked unconscious, until Brooklyn slid over to her and gave her a Potion of Healing. However, seeing her move once more, the snake-armed figure lashed out with his snake hand, and this time Mia crumpled to the ground and died. In a fury, Brooklyn lashed out with her Ice Knife spell and dealt maximum damage, enough to explode the ice blade in his face.
Another band of snake-like creatures rushed in from the south, but before they could engage the ASSes another group intercepted them and masterfully cut them all down. The ASSes were easily able to recognize these members as The Golden Shield. While the battle raged, one of the group members raced across the market and cast Revivify on Mia, pulling her back from beyond the grave.
In her dreams, Broolyn was once more seeing through the eyes of another being. This time she hunted down another cleric, and the victim backed away, demanding to know what the hunting figure wants. She then hears a ragged voice respond, "I want... freedom," and then the hunter chokes the half-elf to death.
The dream then transitioned to the familiar dark room, and the odd figure Brooklyn had faced before and knew only as Kit greets her. After lamenting how time passes differently, the Kit describes his home as a place of torture surrounded by mists and lost to time. He invites her to join into a game where they could learn more about each other, where whomever rolled higher would ask a question that the other must answer true.
- Question 1 (Kit): How do you feel about the Divinities? (Answer: They're cool, they're distant strangers and she is accepting of them.)
- Question 2 (Brooklyn): How have I been punished, in reference to the previous meeting's topics? (Answer: Kit casts an augury, and determines that in her past there was tragedy and pain caused by those close to her. And intersecting at that same time, loss of someone close to her. In summary, betrayal and loss of all those close to her.)
- Question 3 (Brooklyn): Who is the person who is killing people?
