The Hallows of Horsia 2
Operation Parameters
| Date | 1492 DR, 27 Nightal (08/12/2022) |
| Soldiers | Kenai, Ayula, Whole E HALe, Kasfer, Splash |
| Status | |
| Casualties | Ayula, HALe, Kasfer, (Splash?) |
Objective
Go to where Horsa used to be and find a way into the Shadowfell. While there, test two samples given to us by Hyde-White.Observations
The darkness has gotten much closer to the southern outpost. It is now roughly 100 yards away. A decrepit shack around where Horsa once stood has a cellar that leads into the Shadowfell. If the cellar is entered, a room with 3 doors, 3 stones, and a mirror with symbols is where one will exit. By holding the stones to the mirror, the corresponding doors will open. Behind each door is another mirror. Our group passed through the middle door/mirror. It led to a dark forest clouded with shifting areas of darkness. There we met a group of individuals who offered to help us escape these lands for a fee. By paying 20 gold, we were given a vial that supposedly would allow us to leave these lands so long as we traveled to the edge of the lands and drank the vial. We were also informed that this land was ruled by the Black Rose, and that a woman named Francesca was hiding from them. We were told she may be able to help us with the darkness in our lands, so we set off to find her. Upon finding her, we were ambushed by a member of the Black Rose. This figure was mostly skeletal and they were riding a dragon made only of bone. Amidst the ensuing fight, Splash was once again possessed by the demon and turned on the party. Ayula, Kasfer, and HALe were all killed. I retreated into the forest with Splash chasing, and the skeletal figure got to Francesca. All the darkness in the area flooded towards them. A figure suddenly appeared before me and teleported me back to camp. I tried to resist as I wanted to collect their bodies but was not able to prevent the figure from transporting me away. The vials we were tasked with testing were left behind as well as all of the items each individual had. The last I saw Splash, he was still possessed and should be considered a threat. He may still be alive and may continue to remain possessed by the demon. Any individuals who may stumble upon Splash, even if he isn't currently possessed, should act with either extreme caution or malice as his situation is to precarious to be trusted.Follow up
None, however if anyone ever again finds themselves in the Shadowfell near Sithicus, act cautiously and assume the Black Rose is an enemy.Preparation Details
Operation Details
Lt. Hyde-white comes out and discusses Horsa a bit but isn't sure if the place is haunted or not. Regardless, Horsa is likely connected to something that Hyde-white is familiar with and he wants us to test it. He pulls out 2 vials and hands them to Hale saying that 1 is collected from other soldiers from Blythe and one is manufactured by the Jims. He wants us to test the vials at Horsa and see if they react in any way. He also tells us to follow any uneasy feelings we might get. If we manage to crossover, the vials should react themselves and we are to gleam as much info as possible. This place is likely going to be the Shadowfell. We may have to appease the pockets of Shadowfell in order to get out. Not sure of the rules for the Shadowfell but it will likely try to deceive us. Splash is still a potential threat as he can still be possessed by the demon. I remain behind him so I can notice if he starts to turn. We all teleport through to the southern outpost. Splash notices that the darkness has gotten much closer to the outpost. It is now roughly 100 yards away. As we move forward, we notice that it seems like the life in the area is dulled. Even the snow seems to grey a bit more than normal. HALe checks the vials and there is a gelatinous substance pressing against the side of the one that was collected. As we move forward, we get a prickling feeling in our necks, as well as the feeling of being watched, and a pit in our stomachs forms. Splash detects good and evil and HALe sees invisibility but neither of them get any strong reactions or directions, just those uncomfortable feelings. We keep moving forward and Splash starts to get the sense of a direction as his eyes are drawn towards a decrepit shack. We move up to it and can see through and into it as it is mostly destroyed and in the front there are doors to a cellar. HALe checks the vials and the one that reacted before seems to be reacting even stronger and almost bubbling at times. Splash opens the cellar door and heads down. As he goes it doesn't seem to stop and we continue further until we can't even see the cellar door behind us. The vial that was reacting before is now more calm and settled. I cast detect magic and notice magic that is old and hard to place. It has no school of magic and is more like a primeval magic all around. Suddenly we appear in a room that seems to be some kind of old crumbled study. On the far side, we see 3 doors each with 3 symbols on them. Behind us, likely what we came from, is a mirror with 3 symbols as well. There are 3 stones on a desk with symbols on them as well. Ayula tries to ascertain the symbols but can't seem to relate them to anything. With detect magic, I notice that there is some transmutation magic on the doors. Splash looks out of a tiny opening to the outside of this room and can see what can be related to, how the Fort is isolated in the astral sea, this place is isolated in some other realm. The books on the shelves are collections of many things ranging from stories to magic to science. Ayula checks one about magic and takes it, leaving a platinum behind. The stones and doors have symbols that when combined, mirror the symbols on the mirror. The inscription on one door says:"In a land once ruled by three
Brother’s blood makes hand unclean
This our first foremost decree
King ever awaits his queen."
The next door says:
"Black roses bloom on charnel fields
Love cut down in rage and fear
Grim honed blade a specter wields
He loves her even through these years."
The final door says:
"Broken voices speak in tongues
Mended by a twisted mind
Smite the bastard, spite the young
Tinker on his mad design."
Ayula holds up the first stone to the mirror and it opens the first door. We open the doors and they all seem to lead into mirrors with mist swirling inside of them. The first door mirror is broken and shattered. Kasfer touches the middle door mirror and is dragged through the mirror. With detect magic up, the mirror itself has that same strange magic that i saw before. As we exit the mirror portal, we understand that we aren't on Alaron anymore. There is mist everywhere and we are in a forest at night. We think we can hear a fire crackling and voices in the distance. As we get our bearings, Ayula starts to seize up a bit and seems to move slower. Kasfer also seems slower as the two are affected by this place. The shadows around us start shifting and moving and we hear strange noises around us. HALe checks the vials and the reactive one seems calm but the manufactured one now seems to have a glow to it. Splash notices that the vials have some evil radiating off them. The manufactured one seems to be going back and forth in a yin/yang type format. Splash also begins to notice that some of the trees have pockets of sheer darkness between them shifting and moving. Some areas of the night sky are missing stars and some areas in the distance are completely covered by this darkness as it moves. To our north is a hill and perhaps a fire. To our east is a fire much closer and the sound of voices. One thing of note is that there is no snow around here and it is only a chill, however there is still an internal feeling of cold within us. We begin to approach the closer camp as stealthily as possible and see a man stand up. He has long dark hair and tan skin. We begin to talk and he seems guarded as he nudges some of the other members of his group. He says we are in the "mists" and that we are somewhat near and far from Barovia. He also says that they are travelers and that these lands are "humps" in a way. HALe recognizes that these people are Vistani. He shows them the mace with markings of Lathander and they recognize the symbols but tell him this isn't the same place as Barovia. HALe asks about an exit and the man says it can be tricky. He mentions that exiting the fun way is facing the Black Rose, and the other way would be to walk to the edge and drink a vial that he has. By doing that, he doesn't know where we would end up. He does confirm that we are in the Shadowfell and the vials he has he is willing to sell for 20 gold each. We pay the man and collect the vials. The man stands and mentions that if we want a way to remove the darkness from our lands, there is a girl who might be interested in helping. Francesca is a beloved of the Black Rose and is interested in the "lights." She is hiding from the Black Rose and Splash asks who exactly that is. After paying the man for information, he tells us that the Black Rose is the ruler of this land and that they are like Strahd, the master of Barovia. The Black Rose is basically the lord or lords of this land. They once almost beat Strahd himself but have now essentially fallen from grace. He mentions that if we see other light, it is probably her. The man tells us to enjoy our stay in Sithicus as apparently that is what this place is called. As we leave, I purchase one more vial from the man and we decide to go look for Francesca. As we move closer to the other fire, the glint in that one yin/yang vial appears to glow brighter. We exit into a clearing and come upon and old tower with a fire at the base. We can hear voices and see an individual by the fire. A man with white hair says that the woman he is speaking to should go with him but she says that she can handle herself. The man seems like he is getting closer to drawing his sword. The woman is Francesca and the man demands more and more that she go with him. Ayula begins trying to talk to the two and while Francesca is amicable, the man seems uneasy. The man says Francesca needs to be sacrificed in order to end the darkness around. He says that this land will be doomed if Francesca isn't sacrificed to the Black Rose. As this man goes to say something a mote of flame appears and flies at the man, Splash, Ayula, and HALe, who all approached, and explodes. From the north, a bone dragon appears with a skeleton rider. The rider is a member of the Black Rose and summons 4 skeletons to fight us as well. Ayula initially tries to get Francesca out of danger but is quickly attacked and downed by the Black Rose. The skeleton ends up killing her, and shortly thereafter, Splash gets possessed and begins attacking us as well. Kasfer is engulfed by the bone dragon and it attacks him repeatedly until he falls. HALe manages to last a while longer, healing the party and even banishing the Black Rose at one point, but Splash attacks him and downs him, bringing the Black Rose back. I try to save HALe, but between Splash and the Black Rose, I am forced to leave HALe behind and retreat towards the forest. As I try to retreat into the forest with Splash chasing, the skeletal figure gets to Francesca and all the darkness in the area begins flooding towards them. A figure appears before me and teleports me back to camp. I try to resist as I want to collect their bodies but I am not able to prevent the figure from transporting me away. The vials we had were left on HALe's body as well as all of the items each individual had. The last I saw Splash, he was still possessed and acting hostile. He may still be alive and may continue to remain possessed by the demon.