Session 32 - A Man of Wealth and Taste
General Summary
After we met at the castle, Rodrick pulled Kaleb aside, and asked about how to find Reinhard, suggesting it would also be a way to try and find the mimics at Ingo's castle. Later, Winifred tracked down Rodrick, and related the story of the unicorn she saw with Edmon. In return, Rodrick told of the situation with the Augurs.
It being Sunnontag, and also to give thanks for a successful homecoming, several of the group then attend the chapel. After mass, Rodrick received info on the location of an abandoned village in the Düst foothils from Father Adelgund. The father also offered to fix Kaleb's spear, and is repaid for his efforts by having Kaleb splash holy water on him. Winifred used the opportunity to continue to charm ingo. They talked about possible plans for gathering more information about Walpurgisnacht. They proceeded to the Great Hall, whereupon Ingo summoned Kaleb, and questioned him about his broken spear. Kaleb handed over his bent spear, and the night ended.
In the morning Winifred's maid tied her hair with a black ribbon. When the maid left, Winifred told Edmon to go to the refugee camp, and to question the people there.
Meanwhile, Mechtild met Rodrick outside the castle to chat about the little black dog. Mechtild told him that she had seen the dog sniff around one of his books, and after searching through it, Rodrick found a written message insde, saying "call me and I will come". He showed the message to Mechtild, and they discussed it possibly being Reinhard. They then met up with Edmon, and proceeded to go to the refugee camp. The initially end up in the wrong part of the camp, and have a minor confrontation with the old stablemaster from Hirschenwald. Eventually, they located the more recent refugees, who have come up from the south. There, they came face-to-face with a man with suspicious bites. He comes from a village in the Düst foothills, and they questioned him about the Walpurgisnacht and what transpires on it. He told them about the bonfires and sacrifices, and also indicated that the sites are usually marked by a blossoming tree, fairy rings, and stone circles. Rodrick gave whatever medical aid he could. On the way back to the castle, he and his companions discussed further plans, and voiced suspicious regarding the fact that being at Drachenstelle puts an end to transformations.
In the meantime, Kaleb fetched soot from his fireplace, and tried to build a mudpie out of it in the chapel. The father shooed him away, so he continued his activities by the riverbank, some ways away from the castle for the better part of the day, becoming covered in mud in the process. Eventually, he began to see vines come up from the ground, and crawl over his mud pile. It almost seemed like the vines were investigating Kaleb. As he followed the source of the creeping vines, he found a horned horse staring back at him. The creature remained while Kaleb talked with it about whether the mimics and dopplegangers were an illusion. After he asked if Winifred would be alright a light appears on the creature's horn, Kaleb touched it, and a weight seemed to lift from of him, and he was cleaned.
Winifred descended into the dungeon, and began to carefully explore the cell with the scratchings on the wall. They depict several stick figures surrounding a man hanging upside down from a tree with a sword in the ground. In a neighboring cell, Winifred found an inscription that read, “taken by the Vehm, may God have mercy on my soul”. A little shaken by this, she left the dungeon, and found a book of Gaalite lore that told of the origin of the Spear of Pardus - the spear that pierced the Lord's side. She also pondered an the image of the man hanging (or crucified) upside down, and recalled that she had seen such an image on some imported playing cards.
The party regrouped and informed Ingo of all their findings. Winifred and Rodrick conversed about a plan to camp outside the castle.
Winifred then went back to Ingo to let him know that she will be joining her friends on the trek to the abandoned village in the south on the day before Walpurgisnacht. She insisted that she is aware of the risks, and that the party needs her She panicked as she thought that she was not getting through to him, and the panic caused her to overflows with magical power that caused her to flee from ingo in fear. He chased after her and found her lying on the ground. As he drew close, she explained that what he witnessed was a reaction to something in her past. He seemed to understand and reassured her that she would never be treated as an outcast here.
Rodrick and Mechtild went deep into the woods. The physician had discovered more written notes in his book after he asked no one in particular what his name was. The note read "Mephisto". Rodrick called out to him in a deep forest hollow, and the dog indeed returned. It followed them back toward the castle, though just prior to arrival, Rodrick thought better of inviting it inside. The dog transformed into a gentleman in red and then told Rodrick he had already invited him onto the estate. He revealed that he was summoned by the brooch Rodrick took from the orcs, and revealed its other powers to give the wearer resilience. He then asked what Rodrick and Mechtild wanted, and said he would name an appropriate price for each deal (indicating that he found dealing in body parts distasteful). Rodrick demurred, but Mechtild asked for the power to distinguish truth from lies. Mephisto replied that he would grant her that power in exchange for bringing Winifred out to the woods to meet him.
Report Date
18 Apr 2024
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