Session 12 - The Trial of the Caves
General Summary
Before the party entered the cave, one of the volkhvy introduced an ally to the party - a raven-haired man named Nogat - another traveler looking for answers. The party asked what his intent was for entering the cave and why he was here, and were (more or less) satisfied with having him join the party. After entering the cave, the party found a camp fire, recently used but burnt out. A bit further in, a small stream of water seemed to be following from the ceiling of the cave to underneath it. Ivan drank it, to determine if it was safe to drink, and quickly regretted it, as his senses seemed to be influenced by strange water.
Continuing on, the party encountered an incredible aggressive swarm of bat-like creatures, but managed to face their fear and defeat the creatures. During the struggle, Vashti noticed the body of a man lying on the ground further ahead. The party went to check it out, and found the potter Gavrilo amid a spread of delicious foods.
Extremely suspicious, the party determined that the body of "Gavrilo" was dead, before it started moving and trying to convince the party to eat him. The party attacked, eventually severing his head, and he stopped moving. Nogat turned into a badger to eat him and tear him apart, and in return was given a vision of Gavrilo's death. Ivan was suspicious of this vision, especially it seemed to Irina that the body had disappeared completely, blood and all.
The party continued deeper in, shaken but still determined to find what was in the depths of this trial, when they found two pillars with huge constrictor snakes curled around their feet. The snake-pillars asked who was Yarilo, the spring sacrifice.
As Ivan explained who that was to the party, the Volkhvy offered himself as a sacrifice to the snakes, who tried to eat him. Ivan was having none of that, and the party got into a fight defeating both of the snakes, but not before one ate Lada as well. After defeating the snakes, who seemed to be able to move even after death (much like the black pig from before), the party decided a conversation was needed, if only to determine their next steps.
Report Date
21 Aug 2022
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