Session 16: Deal of an Ancient Kind Report

Party marches north after trail. They encounter the corpse of a dead youth surrounded by three slain tribesmen. What occurred was clear, though the details scant. The best they could do was search the scene, which wielded small items like food and charms, but also an interesting ring of silver with a design of vines and leaves. Calista took possession of this latter item and believed it important.

With memories of the slaughtered baeldor and shattered grove in mind, the party continued through the Vestidian woodlands with weapons ready. Calista felt a strange breeze billow from east and follows it. They travelled for some time before emerging from the trees and onto open ground. Before them was a wind-swept plain terminating in a great series of jagged precipices beyond which sprawled the vast Sea of Zolrassus. West of this stood a small village of thatch and mud, must alike to other tribal holdings seen. Bewildered and suspicious villagers stood outside, and armed themselves with primitive spears. The party, seeing no other options, approached those ruddy folks and spoke with them. Calista and Ballisar spoke foremost, and asked them measured questions about the recent communions with the Ancestors and who organized this religious revolt. Surprisingly, the villagers weren’t drawn to anger by this, but took apparent interest in the attention of foreigners to their history. One of them explained that offerings were deposited in a cavern system abutted an abandoned village. Gold and silver, what little of it was around, along with trinkets and iron weapons were all presented. It appeared that this was the party’s only lead forward, so they followed it both physically and mentally. Things eventually had to make sense?

Travel dominated the next day and few hours, enduring the bitter could through the dawn, noon, and into the deep night. Finally, they came upon a risen berm over which stood a dilapidated village around which speckled bonfires of curling flame. There was a half dozen such ember pits scattered throughout a large clearing, and sitting in calm conversation around them were scores of faithful. It was a fearful sight, especially with the looming threat on constant enemy vigilance abound. On the far side was an ominous cavern mouth which jutted from the shallow hillside along the clearing’s northern side. They debated on how to proceed, then came to the resolution to flank wide when the majority of fanatics were asleep. All, but Orin proceeded, while he guarded the horses.

They entered, and witnessed the beautiful interior of the cave’s atrium. All were surprised. Beyond the cavernous maw shattered into five subordinate routes, each winding in its own leisure. They travelled inside, then matters began to complicate. A voice spoke out to certain individuals, a soothing voice, confident and reassuring. Ballisar chose to block it out while Phorastor, being a clandestine member of the Scarlet Hand, spoke intently with the mental presence. It claimed to represent the ancestors and was curious of their motives. Party discovers treasure room with significant loot, Phorastor is highly suspicious of the trove. Ballisar is more receptive to taking some prizes. Little was gained in fruit in those early discussions, but an opening was created when Callista was separated from the others. She was left in the dark and the voice spoke out to her.

Phorastor, Ballisar, and Azidael traversed the darkness until they discovered a vast and rather odd chamber. It was hewn from sheer rock, the same stuff of the hills around, with grand pillars sprouting from floor to ceiling at irregular intervals. Littering the dusty floor were dozens of sarcophagi, each carved from white marble and in various states of repair and disrepair. Their purpose was clear, but their origin uncertain. Two had names, one with Odessa and the other Solomon, and the former was open and possessed some strange residue, as if food was prepared within it.

Calista bumbled through the darkness until the voice offered to help lead her to safety. She takes on of the five paths and travels for a few minutes. At the end, she saw the flicker of a torch, and a moment later discovered the man holding it. He was an ancient fellow garbed in dated linen robes, something more appropriate for sleep than perpetual inhabitance of such a rustic space. They speak, and the man introduces himself as Kenneth, which is a name quite foreign to Othos. He is the self-proclaimed keeper of that cavern, and associated with the voice. However, the voice was not known to him as the ancestors, but as something entirely different. What that might be was left rather enigmatic, but this voice had led Calista to that place. Kenneth revealed a stone portal to her, and slowly opened it. He beckoned her inside, but she was suspicious and asked many questions. This frustrated him, and after a short time he ‘beckoned’ forth those believers from outside by some strange means.

Other members of party are drawn toward the dispute. Orin witnesses the great crowd outside stir to life and begin gingerly stepping into the gapping maw of stone. He chooses to remain silent and still, lest his intervention escalate events further.

Calista can hear the approaching horde, and in the moment agrees to step into the room. It is a small space, perhaps only eight or so feet squared. The walls were bare and roughhewn. In the corner is the decrepit remains of some unfortunate soul, one having some worn chainmail and some strange tabard Calista could not identify at the time. At the center was the strangest fixture of the place. A pillar, not crafted by appearing natural and crude with various depressions and holes across its surface. Some disturbing purple mist hung heavy on that thing and filled the chamber. It introduces itself as Sinestra to Calista and explains that there is no connection between her and the ancestors.

Other members of party barring Orin arrive. They quickly make their way toward the stone portal, which Calista opens for them. Each one of them stumbles inside while the confused gathering of zealots file down the hall toward the door. Ballisar senses this pillar is the source of the energy and voice, and immediately attempts to destroy it. This causes Sinestra great pain and anger, while those zealots outside are suddenly overcome with a great bloodlust. They batter upon the doors and threaten to slaughter everything inside. They all speak in panicked manners, introductions are made. Sinestra explains her situation and explains that she understands theirs. She can help Ballisar and Azidael with their dilemma of Áckesh more effectively than the ancestors, perhaps give some wisdom to boot, but only if they assist her. They inquire further, surprisingly, rather than attempting the finish the spirit. She requests some mortal form so that she might escape this ruinous prison, finish some loose business, and possibly meet the Third Son whom struck her with such interest. An all-consuming disquiet overtook them, but what choices were they allowed? At worst, the beast of the pillar could call forth the zealots from outside to finish the bloody work once the negotiations failed.

After incredibly difficult decision making, Phorastor offers himself as a sacrifice on terms that Sinestra remain unbound to Typhon. Sinestra agrees, and the party reluctantly allows it. She has the man take off his armor, but rest himself against the pillar. He is then forced to grab a knife and plunge it into his own heart, and the purple smoke of Sinestra enters the wound. The once mortal body is overtaken and unified with the spirit of Sinestra. They depart the room as one party, albeit fundamentally mistrustful.

The fanatics, some twenty or more of them, lay unconscious upon the stone ground. Sinestra waited behind while the rest of the party stepped outside and encountered Orin once more. He was concerned and confused to not see Phorastor with them, and it was only with great and ominous delay that somebody finally spoke up about the truth. As night set, the shocked party settled into camp. Sinestra emerged from the cave mouth with her arms coated in blood. She approached Ballisar and clasped her hand upon his head, forwarding her power of Eshara to cure his Áckeshi ailment. Orin was particularly disgusted, no less because a fellow Corgastorian was apparently lost to his monster.

Party goes to sleep in town with Sinestra accompanying.