Session 30
This chapter begins with our heroes scoping out their approach to Melina's hovel. The large stone tower a a daunting site and the effigies that hung around it from the boughs of trees and the awning on the doorway a clear sign that outsiders were not welcome in this clearing. Pokziq 'Pox' Skirvet and Oryim decided to do a loop of the building, trailing along side the silver wire they had noticed when they first arrived. Eventually, the two of them looped back to the rest of the group, turning to Liaden O'Legal for guidance on how they should proceed, it was her quest after all.
After deliberating amongst themselves, Liaden decided that it would be best to face this problem head on. She stepped forward with purpose, crossing the threshold to stand in the clearing. After a moment, her companions joined her. A voice rung out around them, echoing between the trees and bouncing into their ears. The voice of Melina herself called them forth, inviting them in, her voice warm but hiding a sinister tone deep beneath the surface.
The party approached the door, Sam Calas raised his shield as he opened the door to a room. There were three other doorframes, each had a sheer white fabric hanging within them, floating softly but barring vision beyond. Our heroes stepped into the room, one by one as thee door shut quietly behind them. Pox noticed a peculiar scent as they entered. An extremely unpleasant one that assaulted his senses. It was distant, and there was a deep growling that drew closer.
Our heroes began to explore, finding that each doorway lead to completely different rooms. Confused, they spread out further until Oryim came face to face with the black cat that they knew as Tombstone Pete. The cat that they now knew was a Cat Sith and had feasted on the souls of Liaden's ancestors. Thus combat ensued, Oryim was eventually joined by Sam. Together, the two of them drove the Cat Sith to flee. As it did, the growling and putrid smell grew ever closer. From doors behind Sam burst forth three clouds of mosquitos, making it difficult to pursue the Cat Sith.
However, as the Cat Sith believed it was safe, it ran into Kalydin who had been exploring and landed the final blow, causing both the evil fey creature to vanish back to its home realm, but also Oryim's soul was released and returned to him. Our heroes took a deep breathe, thinking the worst was over. It was not.
Just as quickly as one threat was extinguished, another burst forth. A large and imposing form burst through a doorway, it looked like a decomposed stag, it's head a deer skull and its front legs ending in bony hands. It's body covered in sores and scabs that maggots crawled within. Pox was assaulted by the horrid stench, finding it hard to resist needing to gag and vomit. It was Pox that identified the creature, but unable to discern any of it's weaknesses. It was a Leukodaemon. A daemon. A soul lost and corrupted by the roiling energies between life and death. This creature possessed the power to spread disease and speed up the process of some such diseases.
With a combination of this daemonic creature, the mosquitos and the existing ghoul fever in our heroes, they were all subjected to various diseeases and driven to deep sickness. The leukodaemon did not relent, as it pressed them to the edge of life. As the party attempted to lay it low, Melina appeared before them, using the Leukodaemon as a shield and slinging dark magic at them. With our heroees being on the edge of defeat, they fought tooth and nail barely able to bring thge leukodaemon down.
Liaden locked eyes with Melina, her abdomen twisting with pain. Melina's disguise fell away, no longer a demure old woman, now a twisted and blackened hag who's hair swayed like it was permanently in water. her teeth like needles and her tongue like a dark brown tentacle. In her hand she clutched a green gem in the shape of a heart, it beat like a normal heart would, though it was still unmistakeably stone. As the fight drew on, the party grew tired, Melina having built her strength vanished beefore their eyes, lost in the settling dust.
The party began to search carefully, Kalydin eventually seeing the vagueist shimmer, pointed and called out to the others. Melina faded back into existence, her mouth impossibly wide and poised to take a chunk out of Sam's neck. Sam, realising just in time, swung his shield around to check the attack, the fangs in Melina's mouth dripped with a mix of blood and saliva. Taking this rare opportunity while Melina was pinned against Sam's shield, Liaden released a volley of arrows, each one landing one after another. Melina was knocked off balance, and before she could lunge at her prey again, Liaden released another volley. Her gaze resolved and her aim poised, three shots landed against Melina. One in her abdomen, pushing her closer to the wall. One in her wrist, causing her to drop her heartstone and the last in her mouth, pinning her agape mouth against the wall behind her.
As Melia struggled against the shots, she tried to pull them out, unable to grasp it and weakening as blood drained from her. It would not be long before she would go limp, dying against the stone wall as her dark blood dripped from her jaw and fingers. The heartstone, no longer in her grip, stopped beating. The threat defeated and the danger gone, the party collected themselves taking a short reprieve before exploring the remainder of Melina's hovel.
After deliberating amongst themselves, Liaden decided that it would be best to face this problem head on. She stepped forward with purpose, crossing the threshold to stand in the clearing. After a moment, her companions joined her. A voice rung out around them, echoing between the trees and bouncing into their ears. The voice of Melina herself called them forth, inviting them in, her voice warm but hiding a sinister tone deep beneath the surface.
The party approached the door, Sam Calas raised his shield as he opened the door to a room. There were three other doorframes, each had a sheer white fabric hanging within them, floating softly but barring vision beyond. Our heroes stepped into the room, one by one as thee door shut quietly behind them. Pox noticed a peculiar scent as they entered. An extremely unpleasant one that assaulted his senses. It was distant, and there was a deep growling that drew closer.
Our heroes began to explore, finding that each doorway lead to completely different rooms. Confused, they spread out further until Oryim came face to face with the black cat that they knew as Tombstone Pete. The cat that they now knew was a Cat Sith and had feasted on the souls of Liaden's ancestors. Thus combat ensued, Oryim was eventually joined by Sam. Together, the two of them drove the Cat Sith to flee. As it did, the growling and putrid smell grew ever closer. From doors behind Sam burst forth three clouds of mosquitos, making it difficult to pursue the Cat Sith.
However, as the Cat Sith believed it was safe, it ran into Kalydin who had been exploring and landed the final blow, causing both the evil fey creature to vanish back to its home realm, but also Oryim's soul was released and returned to him. Our heroes took a deep breathe, thinking the worst was over. It was not.
Just as quickly as one threat was extinguished, another burst forth. A large and imposing form burst through a doorway, it looked like a decomposed stag, it's head a deer skull and its front legs ending in bony hands. It's body covered in sores and scabs that maggots crawled within. Pox was assaulted by the horrid stench, finding it hard to resist needing to gag and vomit. It was Pox that identified the creature, but unable to discern any of it's weaknesses. It was a Leukodaemon. A daemon. A soul lost and corrupted by the roiling energies between life and death. This creature possessed the power to spread disease and speed up the process of some such diseases.
With a combination of this daemonic creature, the mosquitos and the existing ghoul fever in our heroes, they were all subjected to various diseeases and driven to deep sickness. The leukodaemon did not relent, as it pressed them to the edge of life. As the party attempted to lay it low, Melina appeared before them, using the Leukodaemon as a shield and slinging dark magic at them. With our heroees being on the edge of defeat, they fought tooth and nail barely able to bring thge leukodaemon down.
Liaden locked eyes with Melina, her abdomen twisting with pain. Melina's disguise fell away, no longer a demure old woman, now a twisted and blackened hag who's hair swayed like it was permanently in water. her teeth like needles and her tongue like a dark brown tentacle. In her hand she clutched a green gem in the shape of a heart, it beat like a normal heart would, though it was still unmistakeably stone. As the fight drew on, the party grew tired, Melina having built her strength vanished beefore their eyes, lost in the settling dust.
The party began to search carefully, Kalydin eventually seeing the vagueist shimmer, pointed and called out to the others. Melina faded back into existence, her mouth impossibly wide and poised to take a chunk out of Sam's neck. Sam, realising just in time, swung his shield around to check the attack, the fangs in Melina's mouth dripped with a mix of blood and saliva. Taking this rare opportunity while Melina was pinned against Sam's shield, Liaden released a volley of arrows, each one landing one after another. Melina was knocked off balance, and before she could lunge at her prey again, Liaden released another volley. Her gaze resolved and her aim poised, three shots landed against Melina. One in her abdomen, pushing her closer to the wall. One in her wrist, causing her to drop her heartstone and the last in her mouth, pinning her agape mouth against the wall behind her.
As Melia struggled against the shots, she tried to pull them out, unable to grasp it and weakening as blood drained from her. It would not be long before she would go limp, dying against the stone wall as her dark blood dripped from her jaw and fingers. The heartstone, no longer in her grip, stopped beating. The threat defeated and the danger gone, the party collected themselves taking a short reprieve before exploring the remainder of Melina's hovel.
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