Session 18
General Summary
Within the giant clam shell that is the Temple of Varoona in Sotto Varoona, Newt emerged with a fresh hooficure and steam pressed clothing. He's never quite felt this good or at peace... So it was no surprise that that bubble was burst almost immediately when a Kereselló guard arrived and declared that newt's friends were in danger in the Snail Caverns. The old priest there conjured them a pathway in the water, sending them directly from the temple, through one of the snail tanks, and into the snail caverns. The sounds of combat echoed through the caverns halls...
Meanwhile, Rani and The Widow stepped forward to face Olivantha - covered in a metal suit that choked out black and golden mist. They told Moira to run; they can only hold them off for so long. Moira, in classic Moira fashion, did not listen. The Widow was successful in keeping Olivantha in place for the majority of the fight and, conveniently, in the center of Moira's moonbeam. Captain Francis Morgan was delightfully chipper at the start of the fight. He initially engaged Rani and The Widow before moving past to his true target: Moira. He was quite offended when anyone aimed for his face.
Newt and Jeramy arrived two rounds into combat with Jeramy looking a bit more winded. Newt moved to immediately engage Olivantha while Jeramy took on the Pirate Captain - almost singlehandedly fighting him via repeated punches to the face.
Bert, after acquiring his cane, moved up next to Moira as it's a bit difficult to hear over the sounds of combat. He cast death ward on her before he was promptly confused for 12 seconds. When he came to, the situation had changed and he decided that it was in his best interests to leave.
After Olivantha's suit broke, spewing smoke around her temporarily, and Rani fell unconscious, The Widow successfully brought her to the ground... and then the room got cold as her body twitched and jerked back to an upright position. She looked healthier than moments prior... if you ignore the black bottomless eyes, pale hair, black veins, and gaping hole now visible in her abdomen. A deep guttural voice spewed from her lips: The knowledge of mortals is so limited... you don't know what you're interfering with. When her voice returned, she seemed outraged that the party would interfere with her purpose.
Moira - mind linked with Olivantha - felt the sensation of cold emptiness and dread like a sucker punch to the gut. Tendrils of blackness extended from Olivantha and consumed her vision. She saw flashes of memories that were not her own, though some vaguely familiar: a range of red rock mountains, a temple trimmed in shimmering gold, crowds of people with unfamiliar faces, and the visage of a beautiful kalashtar woman with long silver hair adorned with trinkets. She was then consumed by the cold darkness of a void, unable to move or comprehend the fight around her.
While Newt and The Widow were dealing with a newly awakened Olivantha, Jeramy was having a grand old time turning the pirate captain into his own personal punching bag. Olivantha took The Widow down with a "gift from Rani" as she dealt the swarmkeeper's damage to The Widow. She was unimpressed as Newt attempted to flee from her, pulling him back from his position in the air.
Stuck in the void, Moira saw a shadowy figure take form and extend a hand: "I can help you, if you let me. It is a simple yes or no answer..." Moira, knowing her friends were in danger, took the hand. Forced out of her stupor, she felt invigorated. Olivantha almost immediately locked eyes with Moira, summoning the cleric to her as she said: "You know my pain... I am sorry." Olivantha then fled down the tunnel of water.
The Deep End dealt with the aftermath of the combat. Moira's eyes - now black bottomless voids - and veins - black as coal - were alarming, but ultimately faded... ending with a dull, familiar sense of gnawing hunger.
The party attempted to pursue, but it seems Olivantha had a getaway ship at the ready.
Returning to Sotto Varoona, King Dorephan was pleased with the quick capture of one of the pirate captains. He rewarded the party by matching the Temple's bounty (800 gold) and providing them an additional reward of their choice. When the party expressed their exhaustion, the King granted them their own private guest quarters within his palace.
Within their temporary quarters, Moira decided to cast sending to Olivantha.
"I was weak... Through him I gained power. Through him I was saved. Do not cross me again. Tell Mario and mother... I love them."The Widow got drunk and Newt did a horrible job sneaking out of the room. Waking up face down on a familiar plush couch on top of a floating golden platform, The Widow spoke with Therarask, who informed The Widow that they do have other things - *cough* a whole island *cough* - to attend to. And, although Therarask does have a view of much of the continent, their vision is not without bound. Why does The Widow insist upon throwing himself into such danger? And any preference for red, gold, or pink? The Widow asked what was the worst pain - not physical - that Therarask had ever felt. The God of Hedonism turned oddly somber, moving to stand at the edge of the platform, overlooking the jungle. They took upon the form a human male with curly back hair dressed in plainer clothes, but still adorned with some metal trinkets. Despite the fuzziness of some of their memories... Therarask can still recall her face clearly... and how she looked as she died in their arms. There is a reason Therarask is the God of Devotion... The meaning of life? Is it not to feel deeply? To possess emotion? Meanwhile, Moira saw a familiar... dream? The skies outside were red as if it were dusk... but you remember climbing the mountain at night. You're standing on a balcony, but the surroundings beyond the railing are obscured... The gaze settles on a woman standing nearby. Her piercing violet eyes mark her as Kalashtar. Her long silver hair is braided and inlaid with silver and gold trinkets that jingle slightly as she turns. She's dressed in a beautiful and ornate gown with long flowing sleeves decorated with filigree that you can't quite make out... yet you feel you know what it is. She speaks, low and melodic: "My opinion? You're being a bit too harsh. I think a gentler approach is warranted..." And then her eyes seem to burn past the gaze you are seeing through... looking directly into your own eyes: "She's very young and naive, after all." In the morning, the party interrogated Captain Francis Morgan, who's face was incredibly swollen courtesy of Jeramy. He provided the party with ample information once under the Zone of Truth spell:
- His two tasks were to (1) acquire the purple Koaz snails and (2) find a way to kill Bert if possible to stir up trouble between Varoona Proper and Sotto Varoona. It's incredibly difficult to kill that old wrinkly fellow. Don't get the charm.
- He's been working with Olivantha since the start of Ro'Theron... she never seemed interested in talking to him. Oh, and the Pirate Lord doesn't work for her... she's helping the Pirate Lord. Obviously.
- Porysis told him that Olivantha was possessed by a servant of the Dread King. He didn't believe it... but now? Maybe.
- Captain Porysis – the Serpent Captain of Swords – is on the southern coast of Dremora doing what he does best: kidnapping people and selling them for profit.
- Madame Hai Rong? Oh, she's dead... not dead... undead... half-dead? Who knows, but she raises things. Seems she's raised a leviathan. He has no idea what she's supposed to be doing or what her purpose is. He doesn't know why they raised her to begin with.
- He is incredibly fond of the Pirate Lord. He went on and on about his looks to Rani, oblivious to her intent. The Pirate Lord is supposedly in love with another, but Francis is happy to admire from afar.
- The Doctor? Francis didn't know of a doctor...
Rewards Granted
The Deep End received the following items:
- Clockwork Faefly
- Dark Fathom (studded leather) Armor
- A bedazzled pirate hat with a matching bedazzled jacket
- 1300 gold
Missions/Quests Completed
Captain Francis Morgan was successfully apprehended by the Deep End, with assistance from a newly hired scout and guard: Jeramy. Although Olivantha escaped into the night once more, the party was able to acquire some information - useful or not - from Captain Francis on Pirate Lord Janos Liderc, Captains Porysis & Madame Hai Rong, and what little his knows about his own mission in the Snail Caverns.
Report Date
16 Sep 2021
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