Session 67: Refuge

General Summary

Session Commenced: The 9th day of Cyt, 1622 TER (Day 526 of the campaign) Session Concluded: The 10th day of Cyt, 1622 TER (Day 527 of the campaign)
Safe from Zitonai, the Wildcards were invited to remain at the oasis and rest before departing, which they gratefully accepted. This chance to recuperate from a long and difficult journey was welcomed by all, although each menber took it in their own way. Syr Galindann petitioned Merath for access to a private room to stand in vigil for his fallen comrades, and when this was provided, he immediately departed to spend the remainder of the day and the next night deep in prayer. He also sent word to the Militant Order of the Shield of what had transpired in the desert, specifically the growing threat of Zitonai, the Burnished Huntress and the growing dark point in the night sky.
Gemris found herself a hammock slung over the oasis and, after soaking for a time to soothe her burns, climbed up to rest. Skulk frolicked and played with the children as Morthak sheltered in the subterranean dorm to avoid the heat.
Sofia, after settling in, sought out a quiet location in order to use an incantation buried deep in one of her books of occultism. Drawing forth a candle that spontaneously sprung to life with a green flame, she set it to one side and began the spell. As it ended, she felt herself drawn up in an increasing cacophony of whisper and the scratching of quills on paper until, suddenly, the sound ceased, and she was able to ask questions of an entity far beyond the material plane.

What are the Magistratum doing with the Children of Abundance?

Preparing.

Will Zitonai find this place?"

Eventually

Will the Magistratum find Mylla here?"

No

How long will the binding of Pelenspayar hold?

The season's turn

Is Alyssa alive?

Barely

With the spell complete, Sofia caught herself, stumbling under the great mental strain of the spell. As she did so, Blink, a little halfling boy, blinked in and out across the oasis, giggling and he fled Rozmesh in pursuit, before summoning the Wildcards to evening meal.
The Wildcards assembled in the common room of the refuge, and after a time Merath joined them. After consuming the meal (and a short altercation between Polypup and the Entity), Sofia broached the topic on her mind following her communion with her otherwordly patron; the safety of the refuge. Merath invited the party to the small library he kept next to his bedchamber, and some discussion followed with regards to how to safeguard the oasis, unique due to the pattern of leylines which blunted the wild magic surges of untrained sorcerers, from Zitonai as she dug her claws deeper into the desert sands.
As the children bustled from the common room and Rozmesh and Orin began herding them to bed, one, a short russet-furred ynidu girl, turned with sightless eyes to look at Sofia, before speaking:

What is Sinu-Endak?

Hearing the name, Merath's conversation faltered and, upon discovering that Sofia was an occultist, he unlocked a small cabinet, drawing forth an artifact wrapped in linens. Within was a curious fragment of a larger tablet, inset with letters composed of mithril.

Merath was surprised to lear that Sofia could comprehend the writing on the tablet, as it was written in an a particularly ancient dialect of the Nythrian language. After having it translated, Merath gifted it to Sofia.
Retiring to their accomodation, the party slowly drifted into a deep, exhausted sleep, Phaes warning the others not to bother her if she was distressed in her sleep. Sofia and Skulk discussed Sofia's past and the plight of her sister, Alisa, and as the night drew in, Sofia again conducted her ritual to contact her patron. Again, she asked a series of questions, with the assistance of Skulk:

How does the dark point in the night sky related to Pelenspayar?

Beginnings

What is the Magistratum preparing for?

Endings

What is the dark patch in the night sky?

Death

What is Zitonai's weakness?

Pride

Is Spell still alive?"

Presently

As the new day dawned, the Wildcards were summoned to breakfast, and after breaking bread, Syr Galindann rejoined them from his night of vigil, consuming an austere meal of dry rations and water, before introducing himself properly to the rest of the party. Skulk, curious at his appearance, learned of the Feywild and its association with the material plane and the Shadowfell, from Sofia and Gemris.
Asher stepped forward, having been deep in converation with Merath, to bid the party farewell. His quest to understand the flail was leading him in a new direction. After giving the group his blessings, Voyage took his hand and teleported him away.
The children filed out from morning meal, cleaned up, and began their lessons with Merath. The Wildcards watched from a distance, as the children proved themselves already to be accomplished spellcasters, Mylla joining in with some trepidation.
After another trip to the library for research, where Skulk discovered a treatise on Nyxian Engines, the ancient artefacts which empowered Nythrian 'Forged, dscussion turned to their next steps. Knowing that Zitonai was still out there, and still looking for them, was an unacceptable risk as the Wildcards made the decision to venture forth and track the dragon, preparing to face her a final time. The possibility that Zitonai was potentially lairing in close proximity to the ruin the Zeshi were searching for was also not lost on the Wildcards.
As the session closed, Phaes drew Sofia away to talk in private. In the dormitory, Phaes asked if Sofia felt she could trust the others. Sofia confirmed that she felt she could, and Phaes revealed her secret - her form and clothing changed before Sofia's eyes, as she became an almost perfect duplicate of Sofia. Sofia as taken aback, as Phaes spoke:

In my experience, when other people find out, this goes one of three ways. They'll kill you - or they'll try. They'll try to use you. Or maybe... maybe... they can be trusted. But if things go south, you've got my back, right, Spooks?

Sofia leaned in, and her own eyes flashed golden for a moment, begore she agreed.

Rewards Granted

Tablet of Sinu-Endak

Campaign

Wednesday Warriors

Protagonists

Report Date

07 Oct 2021

Primary Location

Refuge

Secondary Location

Triumvirate