Session 21: Demon Slayers

General Summary

Previous Report : Session 20: Temple of the Eternal Flow

Planning an Exorcism

After piquing Alexander's demon-slaying senses, the party were invited to stay the night in the Manor.
The following morning, the party woke to find Alexander Pevau head first in preparing the exorcism ritual required for expelling Christol 'Kit' Abistel's demon.
Alexander explains that for the ritual of a Rostraarch exorcism, they need the Herb of Life, which can be found within the deepest crevices of Mount Rillow's cliffside.

Investigating the Cliffside

Christol 'Kit' Abistel remained behind at the Manor, along with Dia who wished to peruse the Library for any information he could find.
The rest of the party headed up the mountain searching for the Herb of Life.
The party reach the cliffside and finds the grand doors they are so familiar with to be missing. Instead, they see a deep narrow crevice cutting into the mountainside.
Ashe stays outside whilst Jackie and Talon navigate through the crack and find the cavern which in 1000 years time will host Halamar's forge.
In this cavern, they find the Herb of Life.
Meanwhile, Ashe discovers a curious plant outside the would-be Tomb.
- She notes that it appears to channel magical energy through it.
- Holding her Golden Ring near the plant, and it begins transferring energy to the ring.

The Ritual

Back at the manor, Alexander briefs the party on the ritual. They will enter the dreamscape whereby Kit must face the traumatic event that the Rostraarch used to latch on to him.
The rest of the party must not make themselves known until the Rostraarch appears.
He lays you all down in a pointing star, with your heads at the centre where he stands holding a thurible, which burns a pungent concoction made from the Herb of Life.
The party drift into the dreamscape and when their eyes open they are standing behind a translucent curtain of energy as they watch Kit as a young boy.
Kit watches himself from a distance, as the young boy walks along the banks of the River Aylauch. The boy squats at the edge of the water and reaches for something below the surface.
Kit watches and experiences the same lurch of panic as the fast-moving current pulls the young boy into the water.
As the boy struggles under the water, the party see his erratic flails become subdued until his body floats lifelessly downstream.
After a few moments, a black shadow beneath the water moves towards the body. The body itself stops and remains perfectly still in the fast-moving water, before slowly moving towards the bank of the river.
As the body reaches the bank it begins to climb out, before it stands helplessly, a black shadow figure standing directly behind it, puppeteering the body limp movements.
Kit and the party hear a strange, menacing voice which says.

I saved you Kitty. I, am, your, saviour. Your life had all but faded from existence. I kept your heart beating. Two days I kept this weak heart beating. Yet you continuously sever our connection, I made you strong Kit, I always have, you'd be nothing but a speck of dust in Adeste's shadow if not for me. I kept us alive. Leave this place my friend, keep our connection strong, and we can grow to levels of power Adeste would cower from. We can do that together Kit. We have been together for so long, we are but two halves of the same person now.

After a brief interaction, Kit resists the urge to trust and listen to the Rostraarch. Instead choosing to slay the beast with the help of the party.

Exorcised

As the party awaken, they felt mentally drained but found that the wounds inflicted upon them in the dreamscape had not touched their corporeal bodies.
They saw Alexander collect a dark ectoplasm leaking from Kit's ear. The Rostraarch.
Dia asks what will happen to it, and Alexander explains that because the Rostraarch cannot be killed, he will have it transported to the Abistella's fort in Aylauch.
- He states that he and The Abistella have an agreement, and he is free to keep unkillable creatures in their vault, and they themselves act as protectors.
Alexander encouraged the party to rest and relax for they will celebrate the success of the ritual that evening.
Kit himself took a long walk. As he walked he felt new and stronger emotions of happiness, sadness, and everything in between. Mostly though, he felt happily optimistic for the first time in a long time.

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