5.0 - Mirrored Meetings Report
General Summary
Travel
Day 5-6 Travel to Isjorbe. As the group travels, a lake of ice keeps steady to the south. Yasmah relays to them how once the height of Flame Cycle kicks in, the ice melts just enough that it beings to lap with the slightest ripples and the ice chunks on top clink and rattle like thousands of wine glasses toasting. Right now however, the lake is frozen and ice harvesters are seen off in the distance. The sun glints on sections of the ice, but good amounts of it are covered in snow, making it hard to see where the tundra ends and the "water" begins. Only the occasional shrubs and clusters of grass give a good idea of that water line. To their left (north) are the tall, rocky, and ice covered Issen Mountains. Yasmah speaks only about rumors of the most desperate outcasts and criminals that try to hide there, but it's a safer bet to join up with the bandits in the forest east of Lyston. The Issen Mountains harbor little food, but plenty of large monsters. And... a witch. Rish tells Yasmah to hush on the matter. Generally, despite the frozen lake, the temperature increases a bit, sitting at about 35-40 degrees. Quick-moving ice-carvers occasionally dot the horizon, moving toward Isjorbe. The group makes it to Isjorbe by nightfall. The merchants try to book themselves at a decent inn near the center of the city, but the owner refuses to serve the scoundrel that still owes him from last time. The merchants have to go back to a more crummy inn at the south east edge of town. The party joins them.Night Sil'Ferrous and Holg hear whispering, calling to them. They follow the whispers to the statue of Vira at the center of town. The plinth seems to be made of the same sort of stone as Sil'Ferrous's book, while the statue is made of grey stone. They investigate, noting the main inscription on the plinth:
"And pushed nearer, Chaos quelled, did Vira to Preservation. Conviction of hers guide to balance, maintaining we do."They notice very faded Script around the newer plate on the plinth. Sil'Ferrous runs back to his room to grab paper and charcoal. He wakes Kilith in his excitement. Kilith gathers Atani and they follow Sil'Ferrous back to the statue. Holg, Sil'Ferrous and Kilith begin taking rubbings of the script on the plinth. They notice the words "Chaos", "Preservation", and "guide" are etched deeper. Atani pieces together the words to the passphrase she was given by her master: "Preservation guide Chaos" The large stone before the statue hinges down to ramp leading into a tunnel. At first the tunnel is rough stone, but quickly turns to reflective ice, but a very distorted and wavy reflection. It's not very roomy either. Sil'Ferrous marks their way through the various paths, him and Holg still following the whispers they hear. Eventually the whispering turns to actual chatter as they catch up to four figures walking away from them. One of the figures notices the party and shouts an alarm. Atani throws her hands up and says the passphrase again to get the two bodyguards to halt. The triton woman standing between the guards introduces herself as Desna. The remaining small figure hides behind her. She asks if the party is with the Cloister since they knew the code. Sil'Ferrous and Holg explain they heard whispering. Desna apologizes and the whispering stops. She explains that she helps save those of unfortunate blood, and those who go insane, hiding them in sparse settlements in the mountains. Kilith identifies her as the witch they heard about. The feeling of being watched rises. And then the reflections of the party turn to a shadow of a tabaxi, one hand out. Desna exclaims, the guards stand at attention. "You are being watched. Hunted." Desna gets very defensive. "Leave this place. Don't lead them to us." She lifts her hand in a gesture and the ice of the tunnels shifts, separating them from the party. Kilith attempts to scrape the ice down to be clearer, but the figure seems to recognize that he can be seen and his image disappears. The party leaves the tunnels, the entrance closing behind them.
Character(s) interacted with
Desna
- Kilith
- Atani
- Sil'Ferrous
- Holg
Report Date
21 Aug 2020
Primary Location
Comments