Session Twenty-three: Speaking with the Dead
General Summary
- 11 of Solas -
Bonda went to pick up Havel as Yarrow tied up Tevor. Alabaster interrupted her and opened his bag. Asking Maneba to come out the two of them put Havel in the bag. Now with Tevor behind them and the Tenders that attacked them bound and gagged Alabaster, Yarrow, and the Druids made their way to Ashbarrow.
As they approached town they could see Tenders milling about occasionally getting commanded by Tanca who would come out of her shop and then retreat back inside. Bonda raised her hand and caught Tanca's attention. She motioned and Tanca commanded the Tenders to go inside their dwellings. The young Tenders looked on to see Yarrow and their elders walking to town with Tevor tied and being led in tow.
Once in town they made their way to Bonda's house. Alabaster raised alarm with being in a house that clearly was spied on but he was outnumbered. Once inside Yarrow and Alabaster wasted no time dumping Gifu's body on the ground. Alabaster then asked Bonda who she was going to resurrect with her limited magic. Bonda froze in place and Taru puffed up. He was furious, demanding an explanation. Alabaster and Yarrow quickly told him that they were attacked and that Gifu was evil and part of a secret organization of evil people.
Taru looked at the two unconvinced and moved to heal Gifu. Alabaster intervened and said that they should tie him up first. Taru ignored him and Alabaster popped the elder on the beak. The Luma popped Alabaster back and the two went back and forth until Alabaster struck the elder with his violin. Taru stepped back and cast Hold Person. Alabaster's muscles and bones stiffened and he was held in place unable to move.
Cyrus waited for everyone else to leave the area before making his way to one of secret entrances to the underground camp. Below the ground was cold, frigid even. Aldous had his notebook open as well as a scroll. He was taking notes in multiple places apparently. Cyrus kept an eye on Aldous and practiced his dancing. Aldous was a bit beside himself. Havel had a ring as well. Aldous thought back to yesterday when he got the staff. Did Dustclaw have a ring? He played it over and over and remembered no such ring on Dustclaw or the ice around him. He tried to take notes in his Ashen Tome but the pages were blackened now. His ink sank into the pages but nothing could be read. The voices in his head were quiet. Frustrated he took out a scroll and began to take notes there.
Yarrow moved over and began to tickle Taru breaking his hold on Alabaster. Alabaster began to yell calling Taru and Bonda names. They agreed to tie up Gifu and then Taru, using the diamond dust from Gifu's component pouch, cast Greater Restoration on Gifu. Gifu shot up and began to look around. Yarrow removed his blindfold and Gifu blinked without saying anything. Taru called for him but Gifu didn't respond. Yarrow, very convincingly, imitated Dustclaw calling for Gifu but no response. Alabaster cast Detect Thoughts and probed his mind. No service thoughts to speak of but deep inside a vague memory of childhood and some raw emotions. Taru grew frustrated and asked what they did. They told him that it was because the ring was removed. Taru asked Alabaster to cast Identify on the ring, to try and see if they could find anything out. Alabaster begrudingly agreed and began to ritually cast the spell. Bonda was beside herself and unmoving. Yarrow looked around and slinked away to the kitchen to make some food.
Underground Aldous was racking his memory. These rings were a problem. Where they after the staff? Just then he heard a noise as if someone else entering. He stopped for a moment and then continued to look at the staff and cast Message.
"Cyrus there is someone here who just entered from the North. You can respond to this message. This is Aldous Brackshaw."Cyrus looked around and seeing no good place to hide blended with the wall and cast Ambush Prey. The footsteps continued and Aldous listened.
"Cyrus what do you see? How many of them are there? You can respond to this message. This is Aldous Brackshaw." "I don't see anyone. They must be invisible."Aldous grew more worried and cast Detect Thoughts. He heard two minds besides his own and Cyrus. One of them gruff and stressed wondering why they hadn't struck yet. The other bored wondering why Signa was having them wait to attack. Aldous pinpointed there location and turned suddenly. Raising the staff he called to its power and a torrent of ice and snow poured out from the staff freezing the room and the invisible people behind him.
Alabaster finished his spell and once again the ring was unable to be identified. It merely showed him that it had an aura of abjuration. Frustrated Taru moved to take the gag out of Tevor's beak. Yarrow stopped him and Alabaster cast Detect Thoughts.
"Ask away" Alabaster kept his gaze on Tevor. "Did you know about all this? That Havel would betray us like this?" Taru asked angrily. No, I had no idea. He didn't tell me anything about his work I "Did Gifu or Havel ever use non-druidic magic?" Yarrow asked, Tevor shook his head. No? What does he mean? Like more arcane magics? Of course not! "Why did we have to stay in Ashbarrow!? Why weren't we allowed to leave or explore? Why haven't we helped the grove yet!?" Maneba started yelling at their elder. If you had left the town you would have been killed by bandits! Alabaster grew frustrated with how little Tevor seemed to know. He looked over at Taru. I can't believe this is happening. We need Gifu but if he's the one that- Alabaster looked to Bonda who had tears running down her cheeks and an angry expression on her face. How could this happen? Under our watch... I never trusted Havel but Gifu... Bonda caught Alabaster looking at her and she glared at him. "Are you reading my mind?!" She asked loudly. Alabaster nodded. "You should be happy I trust you more now. I'm going to speak with Havel now." The group looked at the Hedge who began a ritual. Yarrow came over and looked over Alabaster's shoulder. "What're you doing?" Yarrow poked at Alabaster's violin. "I'm going to speak with the dead."
The blast of cold cut through the room and outlined three figures. One of them fell to the ground clearly unconscious from the attack. Cyrus used the outlines of the figures to pinpoint their location and cast Slow. One o the figures brushed off the cold and ran towards Aldous. As a dagger sank into Aldous's side a figure became visible. Around 2ft. tall, furred eyes, robed with a mask on this figure wielded two daggers and stood before Aldous. Their robe was covered in images of vines and seeds. Aldous grimaced and grabbed the borealis leveling it with the assailant and stabbing them through the chest. The assassin fell to the ground dead. The Borealis instead of being covered in crimson froze a layer of translucent blood that dripped from it. Aldous wanted to inspect but began to run towards the southern exit of the underground camp. Cyrus moved over to the outline of the one figure left. He grabbed his dagger and tried to stab finding no purchase. His teeth however sank into the shoulder of something about his height. The shoulder was hard and unmoving to his fangs. Cyrus, now visible, moved towards Aldous. The outline of the figure became visible. A 2ft. creature in dark robes covered in images of vines and flowers stood before them. They calmly stepped forward and slowly began to walk towards Aldous and Cyrus. As they stepped they waved their paws in the air, and slow enchanting words brought six ghostly balls of force into existence. The energy pierced the air and landed onto Cyrus bursting into his flesh.
Alabaster finished his ritual and blew his death whistle. The loud noise caused the corpse of Havel to shoot up and the birds dead eyes looked around the room. Alabaster snapped at Havel to get his attention. "Hey if you answer these questions instead of being a fucker maybe we'll resurrect you instead of burning your corpse." Havel spit at Alabaster. "I do not need you for me to come back." Alabaster rolled his eyes and cast Detect Thoughts. "Why did you tell people to kill us?" Alabaster looked at the body and hoped his magic would work. "Because you're a threat and a blight. You endanger everyone you're around!" You ruined everything. You're a threat that needs to be dealt with. "Who brought you into this organization?" Alabaster held up the ring that Havel was wearing before. "I do not know what you are talking about. I am not part of a secret organization." I can't believe Gifu trusted me enough to bring me on and I can't even take care of these fools. "Are you working with the bandits?" Havel got quiet. "No." It was necessary at times. We need bodies. "You used a gem during the battle, where do those come from?" Alabaster asked impatiently. "Where they've always come from" Birsha, how could you betray me? You deserved your fate. Alabaster turned towards the group and told them what he had learned. "He was working with the bandits. Probably with the necromancer as well." Alabaster turned to Havel. Odwald was difficult to work with. "What other friends do you have in your organization?" Alabaster was nearing the end of his spells. "Friends,-" Havel looked at Bonda in disgust. These fools won't survive. Slim, Odwald, Jora, any of the leaders could destroy them. Hopefully Tanca will know what to do. "I clearly don't have any friends in my organization." With that the animated spirit of Havel left the corpse of the druid. Yarrow looked at Bonda who had stopped crying. "Are you okay?" The Tola asked as he tried to break the tension. "We need to talk to Tanca."
Aldous turned down the southern hallway clutching the Borealis. He turned the corner and shot a ray of frost at the coming magician. Cyrus used the cover to run back at the caster and bit into him. This time his fangs sank deep into the flesh. Cyrus quickly pulled back and retreated to Aldous. The blood that filled his mouth tasted... good... wonderful. A lust came over his mind for a second before Cyrus calmed himself and looked at the figure. The figure took the bite and was still coming, very slowly, towards them. They raised their paw and a skeletal talon formed in front of Cyrus. The talon sank into Cyrus and he could feel his flesh die a little at the touch.
Yarrow told everyone to wait and that he would go talk to Tanca. Yarrow quickly made his way over to the alchemists shop. Workers were at desks, organizing and crafting. One of them saw him and asked him what was happening. Why Tevor was tied up and why he was with the elders. Yarrow brushed her aside and moved to the back room. In the back room certain things looked like they had been moved in haste. After looking around Yarrow found a secret hatch underneath Tanca's desk. Yarrow opened the hatch and told the craftsperson to go get the elders. Yarrow made his down slowly. The smell of moist earth filled the air as he descended below Ashbarrow. Looking down the tunnel he couldn't see much. Yarrow decided to drink his light potion that he had made in Meadowfern and he began to glow. Down the way he could see vines with dark blue veins creeping along the walls. Alabaster sat with the elders as Gifu started to gain more mobility. He wasn't talking but was moving things around him like a child would. The craftsperson from Tanca's shop burst through the door. They told the elders and Alabaster about Tanca being missing and the secret tunnel. Alabaster grabbed his violin and ran. Yarrow looked at the vines and wondered. Grabbing his flute he played for a brief moment. Streams of multicoloured lights came from behind him as if from the center of town. The veins in the vines glowed and the vines writhed clearly unhappy. Everyone above heard the noise of the flute in the back of their mind. Behind him Yarrow heard the sound of something falling. Turning he saw Alabaster at the end of the tunnel. Alabaster came forward and they looked at the vines together. The two cast cantrips to produce flame and light both of which the vines didn't like. Then Yarrow grabbed his sling and cast Ensnaring Strike on one of his stones. With a gentle toss the stone hit the vines and grew around them, vines clutching vines, and the two heard a high pitch trill from down the tunnel.
Aldous turned the corner and shot another missile of cold at the enemy. In his panic it went wide and Cyrus snapped out of his daze. The Vulpin danced back into the hallway and as he passed the earth around him began to erode and shift into a wall of moving sands. Cyrus grabbed Aldous and told him that they should run, now. Aldous and Cyrus cast fly on themselves and flew out of the underground campsite. The figure popped out of the North exit to see them running away. A tuft of Cyrus's fur in his paw. The two ran to Ashbarrow. As they came to the barrier of the town they could see that the streets were empty. Aldous suddenly stopped and landed. He refused to go inside the town. They would take the staff from him. Cyrus pleaded with him and the two wrapped the Borealis in canvas which froze around it. Then, walking quickly, they went to Bonda and Taru's tree.
They burst inside hoping to find their friends but instead what they saw panicked Aldous. Gifu was sitting upright and alive, Maneba was keeping him from grabbing a plate nearby. Aldous leveled his staff, "What is going on here!? He's alive" Maneba raised their talons at the Corvum. "No, it's fine. He's like a child he's harmless. We just got him to stop crying" Maneba pleaded as Aldous charged his magic to attack. "Crying? Crying! He has emotions!" Cyrus put a paw on Aldous's shoulder. "So do trees, nothing matters anymore." Cyrus turned to Bonda, "Where are Alabaster and Yarrow?" Bonda was beside herself. All the stresses of the day coming down at once. Taru however turned and spoke. "They went over to Tanca's workshop. She was in league with Havel and they are confronting her. Go help them." Cyrus nodded and grabbed Aldous and the two head for Tanca's workshop.
The vines pulled back down the tunnel, seemingly afraid of the light emanating from the Tola. Alabaster and Yarrow proceeded down watching as the vines tried to burrow into the earth around. Alabaster used Prestidigitation to create small bursts of flame and light to make them stutter and Yarrow cast Mold Earth to harden the soil and make it impossible, or at least harder, for the vines to burrow up into the soil. As they proceeded the tunnel turned and they ended up in a small room. It was an underground garden of sorts with benches, sacks, and dark purple flowers blooming around. In the middle of the room was a writhing mass of vines and plant matter dripping with meat and blood. The vines pulled back into the middle of the room and the two looked around from the entrance. Tanca's clothes as well as a potion bottle could be seen amongst the vines. Yarrow grabbed his flute and played it hard and loud. Prismatic light shown across the room in waves and the veins of the vines pulsed with a purple glow as did the flowers around. The sound echoed in the minds of those above and the mass of vines began to scream. The vines shot out towards Yarrow with alarming speed. Alabaster quickly handed Yarrow a potion bottle filled with red slime. Yarrow quickly drank it and cast Fermata's Guardian Bees. Red wasps surrounded him, dripping with fire, blocking most of the attacks of the vines. Upstairs Aldous and Cyrus had made their way into the workshop. Then they heard the flute and felt the earth shake beneath them.
Report Date
29 Jun 2020
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