Session Report 34

General Summary

Continuing their march towards the estate, the Muskrats prepared for possible danger. Reaching the estate, the Muskrats found it to be empty. Thick banks of fog continued to settle over the estate. Using a brute force method, Zonraven broke down the door of the first building that they approached. Finding zombies lurking within, the overzealous Paladin rushed in, and the rest of the Muskrats followed. With the zombies quickly dispatched, the Muskrats found the dead bodies of a few individuals within the small building. It appears that they were would-be adventurers who bit off more than they could chew. 
Zonraven's door busting method would find less success on the next building as one of the greatest Muskrat killers lurked within the building: a banshee. As the wails of the banshee erupted and struck at the very souls of the Muskrats only Zonraven would fall to her song. With his new found friends coming to his assistance, Zonraven would survive the encounter with the banshee. While outside Cambio approached a pit in the ground erupting with flesh and blood. As the rain in the bulging mass of flesh, it sizzled sending small wisps of steam streaming upwards. A sudden burst of mental anguish invaded Cambio's body. The sorrow and suffering of hundreds individuals filled Cambio, threatening to snuff out any sense of identity he may have. His Changeling powers began to run rampant and Cambio began to transform rapidly, eventually taking on a grotesque form, before settling back into his Tabaxi form. The anguish of the souls in the pit reminded Cambio of his very own suffering he endured at the hands of Tritemeus, many years ago. 
Deciding to breach the main house, the Muskrats would be met with more zombies, and an undead known as an Umbral Vampire. There locked within cages, the Muskrats would find a jester known as Pim He and a woman named Ethelda. Ethelda had been kidnapped while traveling south from Wulkan to Port Vertel. She had been fleeing a scorned lover. Pim He, however, was a victim of slavery. In Wulkan he had made a poor joke of a lord of House Vassa. House Vassa seized Pim He and sold him to the Bronzedawn for three copper, who then sold him to a purple Tiefling known as Nephris. While at the estate, Nephris took a liking to Pim He due to his constant flattery of the necromancer. With the prodding of Tev, Pim He shared all his knowledge of the estate and Nephris. 
Nephris is the necromancer who attacked and took over the estate. Nephris is working for Tritemeus who is attempting to create a tunnel of living flesh to the Shadowfell. Currently, the tunnel exists as a portal, but is nearing completion. The portal exits as the pit of flesh at the moment and may be activated by depositing four Portal Orbs into the pit. Pim He also shared that Nephris headed north to hunt down a failed experiment of Tritemeus in the Golanin Hills. The experiment supposedly has the power to bring the dead back to life. Having departed from the estate a few days prior he is not expected back at the estate for nearly a month. After releasing Pim He, Tev entrusted him with some drugs to establish a drug trafficking network. Pim He departed, declaring that he was traveling with Teropika to meet family, and establish an international drug operation. 
In pursuit of the final two orbs, the Muskrats head to a home on the southern end of the estate. Choosing a large window as their entry point, Cambio shot the window with an Eldritch Blast, shattering the window. Sauvek entered first into a storage room. As he opened the door, Sauvek's undead body was riddled with necrotic energy. Two Grim Jesters stood in the room with a single bony finger raised. Sauvek's formiddable form, however, refused to fall after enduring two Fingers of Death. Battle would quickly unfold. The Grim Jesters holding true to their nature could not resist sharing jokes with the Muskrats. Unfortunately, for the Muskrats, these jokes would drive them to the ground in uncontrollable laughter. Itzal and Shade would be driven to unconsciousness as the laughter drove all the breath from their body. Sauvek and Cambio would remain locked in deadly battle with the Grim Jesters. After the first of the two fell, the remaining Jester fled with Sauvek in pursuit. Finding that the Grim Jester had snuck back into the home through a window, Sauvek charged in. Cambio and Tev's Echo-13 would charge in, only to be ambushed by Shadows and an Umbral Vampire. Reacting instantly, Cambio encased himself in a solid block of ice. Sauvek would not be so lucky as the Umbral Vampire caught him by surprise and delivered a near death inducing strike. With Shade and Itzal rushing in as reinforcements, the Muskrats would dispatch the remaining enemies. With Sauvek on the ground dying, and the Muskrats depleted, their spooky adventure at the estate of Baron Emberly Ironstone appears dire.

Report Date

02 Nov 2021