Session 4: Will You Follow? (Part 2)

General Summary

The group wakes up completely in the dark in an unfamiliar tavern. Everything is pitch black except for a lantern sitting on the table that provides some lighting.The group made up of Ash, Garret, and Brandt (Dulmir was apprently not with them), look around the area, finding that it is an abandoned tavern with stairs leading up.
They head upstairs to investigate, finding five doors, all unlocked. In Garret's room he finds a sleeping figure that he fails to hide from (Stealth 1 my dude), which makes him trip and fall along with his dancing lights. The figure wakes up, revealing herself to the group as Risk the Tiefling Warlock. They all head downstairs and exit the tavern, looking for clues as to where they are.
Ash looks out the window to see that there looks like there is a town further down the road to the right of the tavern. There are no stars or moon, so no chance of telling where north or south are. Brandt takes the lantern with them.
To their left is an endless void they can't see past, so they (smartly head down to where the DM told them to which is) towards the village. There is dirt under their feet, but otherwise no other sounds. The air is strangely warm, compared to the early winter they had been experiencing.
The first house they come across is occupied by a half-elf woman who introduces herself as Tosca. She tells them all their questions can be answered by the Lord of the area -he lives in an unavoidable house further towards the main square. The party is skeptical, but leaves her without torturing her which is great.
They pass more houses as they move further along, coming across a man with a guitar and a flaming left arm. He waves to Garret as the halfling waves to him. As they pass, a small blue tiefling child runs past them to sit at the man's feet and listen to him playing. Everything they see is only lit by lantern light.
The group gets to the middle square, where there is a large statue of a halfling man holding a bowl of fire in one hand, which sheds light to the area. The party looks at it for awhile, contemplating it's meaning and who it might represent (no garret it isn't you). They head up to the house clearly indicated as the Lord's house as it looks farily large with a garden out front and it is the only house with smoke billowing out of the chimney. It appears used, but not too old or ancient.
Garret is able to perceive that the lantern Brandt is holding is actually a pupil less eye staring at them. Ash smashes the lantern, and it goes out.
Inside the house is decorated with fine tapestries on the walls, and a few paintings of winter landscapes, and woven sheepswool rugs. The living room has a fire pit, a padded bench for sitting and fine red-and-maroon blankets. A coat rack next to the door with a familiar looking hat, a rusty long sword over the fireplace, two tables and chairs set with two place mats, small kitchen with a boiling kettle.
As the party enters, Hi-len emerges from the kitchen, welcoming all their questions about magic and what he is doing.The place is made by him, only things that he can touch exist there, but he cannot create anything living. It is a form of divination and transmutation magic, something that he dosen't even know the full extent of. He welcomes them to Exist (what a creative name - Risk). He tells them the concept: Release from guilt. He tells them his story, he tells them Neal's story.
The party asks him where Neal is, and Hi-len confesses to not knowing the names of everyone he has brought here, but he took careful care of Neal because he was in an important position. Hi-len follows the group around as they look for Neal, Ness, and Jilcy. They find Jilcy first, who seems to recognize Garret and Brandt a little bit. Hi-len tells them what her story is.
They find Neal hauling a bucket towards the square. He remembers them all, but can't tell them why he is here. They find Ness as well, reading a book by lantern light. She recognizes them, but can't name them.
Garret takes Ash aside and in Halfling asks her what they can do to leave. Hi-len is able to hear this, but he says nothing.
Just as the group starts questioning what is going on, Hi-len asks them "What is your guilt?" and vaporizes them all to another dimension in his mold-able world. They battle it out, Garret using shatter and hurting his allies by trying to get through a water-logged door so they wouldn't all drown. Brandt sticks 6 crossbow bolts into Hi-len. Risk finishes him off with Hellish Rebuke, erupting him into flames and bringing him to 0HP (even at half-damage go girl).
The realm they are in fades away until they are all standing back into the house where he had first met them, unconscious Ash at their feet. Hi-len is barely breathing as the world around them begins to turn to snow and dissenter. They loot Hi-len, and just as Garret pulls his hand away from him, Hi-len grabs his arm and tells him, "Let me know how it goes." (lame last words - Risk)
As the world is still failing, Garret panics as he remembers that there is no way to tell what dimension they will end up in once this one fails. He casts Tiny Hut just in time - a soft glow radiates from it as he, Brandt, Ash, and Risk all stand inside it, waiting for the world to end. As everything goes white, they can hear Hi-len gargle out past his horrible disfigured and burned face, "What a remarkable thing to know nothing." and he too turns to ash and dispersal.
The party remains inside the hut as they watch the world fade from white to black, before they are able to perceive that they have arrived back in the Bullmar tavern, all the chairs and tables having been pushed out from the sides of the tavern by the Tiny Hut. Garret and Risk fail CON saving throws, but Brandt (again) doesn't. Ianvalor looks on in shock as they materialize in the middle of his tavern, but he is eager to serve them drinks.
Dulmir is passed out where they had left him by the window, and Ash finally comes to her senses in order to get a warm drink. Brandt has a heart to heart with Ian as they have some drinks. As the tavern closes and everyone returns to their rooms or the Tiny Hut to get some rest, the barkeep sets out a lantern on the bartop to keep them company. Garret goes up to the lantern and successfully blows it out without having to make an intimidation check.

Rewards Granted

Garret took loot from Hi-len: Potion of Selective Remembrance -golden liquid, Sapphire ring (grants 1 spell slot), a bag of herbs, snakeskin gloves (grants 1 AC), Hide armor, Ring of warmth, ring of mind shielding (+3 resistance to psychic damage), large bone dagger

Missions/Quests Completed

Boss Fight completed with the death of Hi-len

Character(s) interacted with

Hi-Len Huth

Tosca

Ness Fraser

Neal Bardia

Ianvalor (barkeep)

Jilcy

Related Reports

Session 4: Will You Follow? (Part 1)

Notes

Once the session is over, everything is back where it should be. Ness, Neal, and Jilcy are all back at their posts.

Campaign

An Encounter

Protagonists

Ash Stonefleet

Dulmir

Brandt Ironshade

Garret Hilltopple

Risk Zada

Level 5 Tiefling Neutral Good Warlock

/ 36 HP

Report Date

27 Jan 2019

Secondary Location

Highburn

Party Status Garret, Brandt, Risk, and Ash (part of the time)

Year 656 HC

Month Raath

Celestial Lanara half-way obscured by Boqu

Planetary Alfsoss, small yellow planet seen in winter

Astrological Mephitis (raven, northern sky), Maia (fox, southern sky), Teuthida (deer, western sky), Limulidae (farmer, eastern sky)