Session 113: When Last We Met 2/2/25
General Summary
When last we met, the party had arrived at the doorstep of the Dormition palace. Here the guards seem to be welcoming the party into the palace. Mistral and Vandread question the guards on their motives and change in dress. They assure the party that Mistral's Grandmother, The Lady Svetlana Mastokov was expecting and awaiting them. And their change in uniform was ordered by the lady herself.
Reluctantly, the party enter the palace. Within the main chamber they find Svetlana and Lana seated on thrones, Svetlana goes to greet Mistral warmly and is surprisingly happy to see him. She explains they've come at just the right time. They are just about to restart their mining operations and are interested in the party's help in acquiring new slaves to do it.
The party do a quick double take at this as she seems to have done a full 180 from when last they spoke. Vandread attempts to detect magic to see if they are being influenced in some way but finds no sign. The party questions her motives and she presses on that it is the destiny of mortals to serve and work themselves to death.
Upon further questioning by the party, Svetlana says that her new council of advisors are guiding her on this path of action and the party ask to meet these advisors. Svetlana sends her daughter to go fetch them. To the party's surprise, these "Advisors" are nothing more than Star spawn working for the King in Yellow. Mistral has his two family members clear the area and a battle ensues as Celeste casts Silence on the creatures.
One of these creatures, called a mangler, lives up to its name as it mauls Romaia. Mistral casts sickening radiance on a nearby area and Vandread casts Web within that. This Russian nesting doll of spells and effects definitely gives them the upper hand as Hakim takes out the first of the two manglers, Vandread downs the gigantic Star Spawn Hulk, Celeste downs the Seer with two arrows (But not before he manages to lay a hand on Hakim for some unknown effect) and her trusty Companion Moonwing finishes off the last Mangler with a bite attack.
As the final star spawn dies, Hakim, Svetlana and Lana all collapse to the ground. Unable to tell what malady has befallen them, the party splits up and goes to check on the three. Mistral finds blood coming out of the ear of both Hakim and Svetlana. And Ukko confirms he sees it on Lana as well. Mistral shakes the lady of the house awake and she seems surprised to see Mistral and does not seem to remember the previous events. Hakim comes to shaken and out of it but otherwise unhurt. Ukko brings a dazed Lana over to sit by her mother.
As this happens, Romaia casts speak with dead on the Star Spawn Seer and questions their motives within the palace. She learns that they are working at the behest of the King in Yellow to take over different seats of power in the world from the inside. Allowing Hastur's influence to spread and his reign to be complete. The seer says they work under a lieutenant called the Maven of The Worm. And that Hastur remains in the palace of the King in Olorun.
The other major Centralized power is the kingdom of Norheim.
Suddenly Svetlana grabs Mistral's arm and says that the rest of her family are being held in another room in the palace. It appears the Order of the Perpetual shroud are behind this kidnapping and possibly facilitating taking over the seat of Government for Volgot. She urges him and the party to go rescue them. Especially the children. They agree and Vandread tucks the two ladies up into his extra dimensional space using rope trick as the party regroups to stage a rescue mission.
And that's where we'll pick up next time!
Character(s) interacted with
Lady Svetlana Mastokov - Mistral's illegitimate grandmother, Presumed leader of Volgot after her husband was killed. She seemed to have been up to some nefarious things, but it was all on account of Brain Worms
Lana Mastokov - Mistral's Illegitimate aunt and member of the Mastokov dynasty. She too seemed to be not herself. On account of the brain worms.
Notes
29th of Brigid
- Party entered the Dormition Palace
- Spoke with lady Mastokov
- Learned that they are restarting slavery in the country
- Party attacked by her council of advisers
- Party is tasked to rescue the rest of the Mastokov family being held hostage.
It is coming on evening when we pick up next time.
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