Session 63
General Summary
Shop Til We Drop
The Deep End took a trip to Chaos Reigns as the portal on the boat opened. Azrail got the pleasure of visiting the chaotic, blood-witch-owned shop in Varoona for the first time. Do you have any interest in donating blood? Widow was 20% of their stock, but Four is looking to resupply with a bit mroe diversity. After trading and selling all of Porysis' swords, Rani was able to get her tattoo filled with color and upgraded. Meanwhile, the others took a detour to Bert's Snails because, in the words of wise Newt, who cares if we're immature here? This is OUR city.
Traveling to the south of the city, the group thought about using the Floating Tit to replace the Blue End Galleon when the Pirate Lord is finally laid low. At Bert's Snails, they received a cold reception from the warforged clerk. After remembering how expensive the snails are and remembering that Bert doesn't seem fond of them, the group left without buying a single snail.
Back in Eredet, a shopping montage ensued: diamonds, jewelry, sending stones, blankets and more.
At the Corvinus estate, the Deep End spoke with Denarya, dressed in normal clothing and without her gun for once. When Newt asked about bullets, Denarya remarked that her father crafted an alternative solution. Although she still requires some form of material components, her weapon is capable of making its own bullets. Regarding her plans, she will be leaving Eredet shortly. There is not much more she can do to help her comatose daughter, but she can help Six. Thus, she will be going to Lark'Hal to investigate the location of Savant Three. If you catch word of her son – Stefanus – let her know.
Declan pulled Denarya aside to ask about Six. Denarya believes that it's most likely Volo, given his desire to secure his legacy. However, she believes Six to be safe behind the cover of her orchard. She will see if her bounty hunting connections can either earn her favors or at least information.
Newt spent most of the rest of his time in Eredet watching his mother's home trying to catch a peek of his siblings. A young tiefling boy crawled out of the home's chimney after dark and began to dart across rooftops before dropping down to speak with a taller, older gray-skinned tiefling with a rat on his shoulder. He chastised Slate for being out against his mother's wishes, but otherwise did not send him away. After tailing them for a bit as both a pelican and a panther, Newt called on Moira... but then remembered she is terrible at stealth and instead asked for Rani.
At the Corvinus estate, the Deep End spoke with Denarya, dressed in normal clothing and without her gun for once. When Newt asked about bullets, Denarya remarked that her father crafted an alternative solution. Although she still requires some form of material components, her weapon is capable of making its own bullets. Regarding her plans, she will be leaving Eredet shortly. There is not much more she can do to help her comatose daughter, but she can help Six. Thus, she will be going to Lark'Hal to investigate the location of Savant Three. If you catch word of her son – Stefanus – let her know.
Declan pulled Denarya aside to ask about Six. Denarya believes that it's most likely Volo, given his desire to secure his legacy. However, she believes Six to be safe behind the cover of her orchard. She will see if her bounty hunting connections can either earn her favors or at least information.
Newt spent most of the rest of his time in Eredet watching his mother's home trying to catch a peek of his siblings. A young tiefling boy crawled out of the home's chimney after dark and began to dart across rooftops before dropping down to speak with a taller, older gray-skinned tiefling with a rat on his shoulder. He chastised Slate for being out against his mother's wishes, but otherwise did not send him away. After tailing them for a bit as both a pelican and a panther, Newt called on Moira... but then remembered she is terrible at stealth and instead asked for Rani.
Although there was nothing invisible on the older tiefling, Moira did notice some exceptional graffiti. Slate seemed to reluctantly leave the gray tiefling - who he clearly has a crush on - to join the company of other teenagers his age. Tailing the older tiefling for a bit, he moves in ways very familiar to Newt... as if looking for something. As if he's hunting. Newt chose to leave him alone.
The following day, Newt heard the faint some of a mother's reprimand and the tired responses from a teenage boy. One of the curtains opened revealing a young, pre-teen girl. Her long black hair matches Lavathi's, but the looks otherwise human.
A Pit Stop in Groen's Woods
Ironborn's artificers restored The Diving's Board to her former glory - redoing the paint job and hull where they had removed it for the upgrades. Metallic pipes and an exhaust not feature prominently on the stern of the small vessel. The engine itself has been encased with additional metal meshwork that leads up through the ship to the helm. As promised, Ironborn restocked the fuel cells. At the helm together, Moira and Ghilani joined with the helm, feeling the sensation of needles and threat working under their skin and drawing upon their magical prowess. The ship suddenly was surrounded by teal, blue, and purple colors before it reappeared just south of a woods.
After getting the boat to water and having it set sail, the Deep End travelled into Groen's woods. Like before, they came across odd patches of barren land amidst the lush trees. As the others progressed normally, Rani felt a sudden pain in the side of her head and a ringing in her ears before her vision went white. When the white faded, she was standing amidst a scene of chaos. Men and women clash, exchanging blows as blurry figures clad in leather fire arrows from the tree and armored figures advance forward. A warped noise sounds from behind and you feel a familiar tugging sensation before it fades. Your ears ring. People screen. The forest groans. And heavy footsteps echo behind you.
Snapping back to the quiet of the present Groen's Woods, Rani waved of concern as her swords seemed mildly upset:
The war! The war! You went back to the war! ...And you didn't take us. Suraksha: We could have helped so many people! Vinaash: Helpful, but wasteful. We should have found the commander and dealt a swift, killing blow. Suraksha: And what if we couldn't FIND the commander?
Consulting her swords, they recall actions and the general sensation of the war, but people and specifics are hard for them to recall. However, Moira does feel vaguely like this "commander"... perhaps his toenail? As if not complete. Not whole.
A short while later, the Deep End came across a quaint log cabin in the woods with a woman sitting on the front porch. While Mama Ten has always looked the oldest of the blood witches thus far... she seems to have oddly aged. No longer does she appear middle-aged, but elderly. The wrinkles on her face have deepened and her freckles have darkened. Her auburn hair has faded to gray and thinned so much that it slips from her small bun. Still, the twinkle in her eye remains. In her aging, her illusions seem to flicker and fade as she moves. In brief flashes, her wrinkled face becomes littered with scares that have warped with her sagging skin.
She immediately requested a mushroom from Azrail, though did not reveal what she planned to do with it. Regarding what she took from everyone, have you all not realized? Do you know the curses I can brew given that a god despises you? Combined with the right herbs, a token from a Beloved can be used to brew a great many bewitching things. An innate spark and now Chosen. A remnant of the past and while Lark may guide your hand, another guides your steps.
Ghilani asked about her aging. Blood witches don't age... or at least they shouldn't, right? Mama Ten said not to fret as she is neither worried nor afraid. In the end, her blood might flow... and rejoin the great sea of Crimson Red. There, she shall be united with all of her sisters who perished in the years past. And when the last of us falls... blood witches will be no more. For we are tethered to this world by a fraying thread. She mentioned that after her, it will be Nine next and then Eight... and so on and so forth. Given her age, she offered Ghilani her blood freely, but requested that he seek out Nine. Hopefully, you can find a way to adopt a more feathery appearance.
Returning to the Diving Board, the group sailed for a day in a half. While drinking, Newt mentioned that the Deep End is "100% effective... 20% of the time."
Moira, after summoning the tiny hut, went inside to speak with her buddy and pal. In the most eloquent way possible, she reinstated their deal, promising that she won't back out this time. The Dread King within her senses other pieces of its self, but it appears to be more concerned with memories than it does with any other versions of itself. It promised to protect Moira and mentioned that her companions are not worth its time. Moira immediately responded that they are definitely worth it. The Dread King was... confused. So it IS worth it to kill them?
Ghilani asked about her aging. Blood witches don't age... or at least they shouldn't, right? Mama Ten said not to fret as she is neither worried nor afraid. In the end, her blood might flow... and rejoin the great sea of Crimson Red. There, she shall be united with all of her sisters who perished in the years past. And when the last of us falls... blood witches will be no more. For we are tethered to this world by a fraying thread. She mentioned that after her, it will be Nine next and then Eight... and so on and so forth. Given her age, she offered Ghilani her blood freely, but requested that he seek out Nine. Hopefully, you can find a way to adopt a more feathery appearance.
Returning to the Diving Board, the group sailed for a day in a half. While drinking, Newt mentioned that the Deep End is "100% effective... 20% of the time."
Moira, after summoning the tiny hut, went inside to speak with her buddy and pal. In the most eloquent way possible, she reinstated their deal, promising that she won't back out this time. The Dread King within her senses other pieces of its self, but it appears to be more concerned with memories than it does with any other versions of itself. It promised to protect Moira and mentioned that her companions are not worth its time. Moira immediately responded that they are definitely worth it. The Dread King was... confused. So it IS worth it to kill them?
Presenting... BOI
Descending down into the old foraging tunnels, torches have been arranged and stairs carved to make the descent easier. The shattered crystals remain scattered throughout various caverns. As you enter the final cavern, Moira can still see the imprint where she was run over by Olivantha and her terrible mechanical contraption. The cavern seems to have been taken over by scholars and researchers, arranged around makeshift desks and bits of technology. One individual, crouched over the white crystal, seems a bit out of place.
Dr. Apophis Khalid has been placed in "charge" of monitoring the crystals. It is almost immediately apparent that his eyesight is not that great, though according to him, one man's curse is another's blessing. Although he assumes their faces are all lovely, he is pleased to see the arcane weave that surrounds most things. He was delighted to "see" Ghilani again and asked if he had grown taller. Perhaps they can speak later about blood witches. He then asked about Dr. Valdove, is she eating? Sleeping? Or, not sleeping, but doing the trance thing? Ghilani immediately responded that he's pretty sure she ate a coffee cake... once.
The rest of the group immediately and bluntly asked: Are you Serene's lover? He seemed to flounder, trying to assure them that they have a professional relationship. After deflecting the conversation (or at least trying to), he offered them a place to rest once he was informed that it was, in fact, evening. The group mentioned that they DO have a 100% success rate in match making as of now.
In the morning, Apophis began to unweave the binding on the crystals and following their magical thread trail until they arrived at a massive door. A large, jagged "pyramid" of stone erupts from the middle of the door – a faint white light can be seen from between the paper-thin cracks between the stones. The rest of the door is relatively flat and decorated with depictions of four humanoid figures:
After approaching the door, a group of figures made of earth and wearing stone-like armor emerged from the walls. As the image of the God of the Hunt began to faintly glow, they engaged. Apophis, against everyone's orders, ran towards the door rather than away, attempting to sense the weave moving through it. Clearly, something is happening. It only became apparent what was happening after Moira, casting guiding bolt, made a jade gemstone light up and the figure of Tel'Rhea became illuminated. Flowers, Web, and Nature's veil all led to gemstones lighting.
In a series of events, 3 gemstones were illuminated. Azrail's Aura of Vitality triggered Tel'Rhea's. Newt pulled out GUN and triggered Nacheevi's. And then Ghilani presented BOI. George, groggy AF, was sufficient to cause all Jade gemstones to glow. After another batch of healing and an opportunity attack, the door finally opened.
The final binding crystal is embedded in a massive room in what appears to be a dirt tomb of earth. As the massive doors swing closed behind, the last tendrils of magic – the binding weave – dance and swirl towards the crystal visible at the top of the dirt tomb. As each thread swirls around, a crack forms... and another... and another, until after a few moments, the crystal shatters and releases a brilliant flash of light as the earth begins to shake.
For those not blinded, the dirt begins to fall off the tomb and the shattered crystals fall away. After a millenium of resting within its earthen grave of stone, dirt, and twisted roots, a hulking colossus with skin of bark, bones, and plating of stone, and muscles and tendons of thick cords of vines emerges. As it rises, the ground begins to quake and the earth molds for its passing. The colossus' head lifts from where it rested. its face bears the skull of a predator – canid perhaps – and antlers composed of hardened, sturdy wood extend nearly five feet up and out from its vine-covered skull. As the last bit of dirt falls off its form, the eyes of the skull begin to glow a greenish-white hue...
The rest of the group immediately and bluntly asked: Are you Serene's lover? He seemed to flounder, trying to assure them that they have a professional relationship. After deflecting the conversation (or at least trying to), he offered them a place to rest once he was informed that it was, in fact, evening. The group mentioned that they DO have a 100% success rate in match making as of now.
In the morning, Apophis began to unweave the binding on the crystals and following their magical thread trail until they arrived at a massive door. A large, jagged "pyramid" of stone erupts from the middle of the door – a faint white light can be seen from between the paper-thin cracks between the stones. The rest of the door is relatively flat and decorated with depictions of four humanoid figures:
The Dread King: At the top and center is a depiction of a shadow-like human figure in black and violet. The only discernible features are the violet eyes and a 6-pronged jagged crown. The God of the Hunt: the 3 Jade gemstones are arranged around a figure on the left of the door. A humanoid figure has a bow drawn and an arrow notched. The weapon is aimed at a beast in the distance, glowing faintly. Although humanoid, the head is of a white wolf and the huntsman is surrounded by wolves, panthers, and other predators. The Goddess of Life: 3 Emerald gemstones are arranged around a feminine figure at the center of the door. Flowers, fruits, and plants cover this Goddess of Nature and decorate her hair. With each hand she holds that of a child. One child is imbued with a spark of magic as light dances from her hand. The other is shielded by a wreath of green magic. The God of Order: 3 Fluorite gemstones are arranged around the rigid, perfectly symmetrical and orderly figure on the right of the door. The male figure is blindfolded and holding balanced scales in one hand. In the other hand, the figure holds a scroll with scrawling of writing, symbols, and gears. Individuals at the figure's feat are bound and restrained, bowed and groveling.
After approaching the door, a group of figures made of earth and wearing stone-like armor emerged from the walls. As the image of the God of the Hunt began to faintly glow, they engaged. Apophis, against everyone's orders, ran towards the door rather than away, attempting to sense the weave moving through it. Clearly, something is happening. It only became apparent what was happening after Moira, casting guiding bolt, made a jade gemstone light up and the figure of Tel'Rhea became illuminated. Flowers, Web, and Nature's veil all led to gemstones lighting.
In a series of events, 3 gemstones were illuminated. Azrail's Aura of Vitality triggered Tel'Rhea's. Newt pulled out GUN and triggered Nacheevi's. And then Ghilani presented BOI. George, groggy AF, was sufficient to cause all Jade gemstones to glow. After another batch of healing and an opportunity attack, the door finally opened.
The final binding crystal is embedded in a massive room in what appears to be a dirt tomb of earth. As the massive doors swing closed behind, the last tendrils of magic – the binding weave – dance and swirl towards the crystal visible at the top of the dirt tomb. As each thread swirls around, a crack forms... and another... and another, until after a few moments, the crystal shatters and releases a brilliant flash of light as the earth begins to shake.
For those not blinded, the dirt begins to fall off the tomb and the shattered crystals fall away. After a millenium of resting within its earthen grave of stone, dirt, and twisted roots, a hulking colossus with skin of bark, bones, and plating of stone, and muscles and tendons of thick cords of vines emerges. As it rises, the ground begins to quake and the earth molds for its passing. The colossus' head lifts from where it rested. its face bears the skull of a predator – canid perhaps – and antlers composed of hardened, sturdy wood extend nearly five feet up and out from its vine-covered skull. As the last bit of dirt falls off its form, the eyes of the skull begin to glow a greenish-white hue...
Report Date
11 Nov 2022
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