Session 009 - The Blood Pact
General Summary
Tarin puts her arm into the bronze frog statue and voices her lost thing, her writing, and the Lilygrove gives her a parchment and Tarin’s writing is no longer illegible. The party continues to investigate the room in Bavlorna’s room, where Lilygrove finds a porcelain jar made of varnished white clay that was resting on a wooden table. Lilygrove observes that the legs have been painted to look like the legs of the chicken. Inside of the jar Lilygrove finds two broken pieces of a wishbone. Using mending, Lilygrove mends the two pieces together and hears Bavlorna’s voice in her head saying “Skabatha forgets the first creature she sees when she wakes up, although her memory of it returns each night when she sleeps. A creature forgotten by Skabatha in this manner is invisible to her.”
Having rid Bavlorna's cottage of its mysteries, the group resolves to journey back to Octavian Meliamne, bearing his heart as an offering. However, they are met with a sombre revelation: Octavian's heart cannot be restored to its rightful place until a potent spell, capable of ending a curse, can exchange the goat's heart currently within him for his genuine, still-beating heart. Undeterred, the party pledges to return with the necessary magic to make Octavian whole once more. In the interim, Lilygrove entrusts him with the exquisite porcelain jar to safeguard his heart. In gratitude, Octavian bestows upon Wirth his treasured Pipes of Haunting.
Having spent time in the company of Gahr, Vansel finally returns to his usual stature. With a grateful nod, he thanks the human for his assistance. As a token of his appreciation, Vansel presents Gahr with a unique gift: a slender stick crowned with a delicate flower in full bloom. He affectionately refers to it as his "Stick of Good Luck."
The group, fuelled by a sense of justice, resolves to support the Bullywug Rebellion by targeting King Gullop XIX, the reigning monarch of the Soggy Court. What follows is a whirlwind of strategy, a rather unexpected and humorous debate about the size of Gahr's anatomy when enlarged, and Tarin's persuasive skills convincing him to shed his trousers.
However, their meticulously crafted plan unravels when they stumble upon the animated head of Gullop XIX on the Row of Kings. The once mighty king had been dethroned and beheaded by the new ruler, King Illig, formerly the Baron of Muckstump. Lilygrove, with a mix of pity and revulsion, gently touches the face of the fallen king. Tarin, still harbouring resentment for being forced into combat by Gullop days earlier, tries to kick the severed head away. But her attempt backfires as the head retaliates with a swift bite.
Just as tensions escalate, Clapperclaw the Scarecrow steps in, diffusing the situation. The group's spirits lift when Lilygrove restores Clapperclaw's treasured Stag Skull to him. In a surprising turn, they each find a copper piece inside the discarded head that Clapperclaw had set aside in favour of his stag skull. Gahr, ever the jester, quips, "Don't lose your head," but the jest is lost in translation, leaving the Sylvan-speaking Clapperclaw bemused.
As the dust settles, Clapperclaw generously offers to guide the party to Thither. However, Lilygrove insists on a brief detour back to Bavlorna’s cauldron before they set off.
Returning to the ominous green-black cauldron, Lilygrove confidently utters the password, "spittlespew." With a creak and a hiss, the cauldron's lid swings open, revealing a churning, frothy, grey-black potion that pulsates with the unmistakable aura of transmutation magic. Sensing its power, Lilygrove deftly scoops up the remaining liquid into a bottle, securing for herself a coveted Potion of Polymorph.
With their new acquisition in tow, the group makes their way to the designated meeting spot: the air balloon where Clapperclaw awaits. But as they approach, another familiar figure comes into view. To their astonishment, they find Morgort, the Knight of Warts. The very same Bullywug that Tarin believed she had slain in the forced duel orchestrated by King Gullop.
With spirits lifted, they journey from Hither to Thither. Guided by Clapperclaw, their air balloon gracefully descends towards a location known as Nib’s Cave.
As they traverse the landscape, Tarin's keen ears pick up a distant sound. Emerging from the mists, an elderly centaur named Winterbow approaches. With a grave countenance, he warns the party of the realm's impending doom. Prismeer, he reveals, is on the brink of vanishing, and he urges them to return to their own world before it's too late.
Lilygrove, ever the diplomat, tries to persuade Winterbow to accompany them to Downfall, their intended exit point. But the centaur declines. He shares a poignant tale of how his kin managed to escape to safety before the mists consumed Prismeer, but he, burdened by age, couldn't keep pace. Yet, in his wisdom, Winterbow offers a glimmer of hope. If the party seeks deeper understanding, they should find the unicorn residing at Wayward Pool.
With their destination in sight, the party approaches Nib’s Cave, drawn by the inviting glow of torchlight emanating from within its depths. A mere twenty feet from the cave's entrance stands a tree, and upon its trunk is nailed a weathered sheet of parchment. Closer inspection reveals it to be a wanted poster, seeking a child known as Will of the Feywild.
However, before they can delve deeper into the cave, they are met with a curious sight: a plaque bearing a riddle, flanked by two pathways. One veers to the left, the other to the right. Gahr, ever the adventurous one, opts for the right path and soon encounters an owlbear. Remembering the creature's fondness for food, he offers it some jerky, which it readily accepts. Convinced of its friendly nature, Gahr returns to the group to share his discovery.
Lilygrove, with her insatiable curiosity for creatures, dashes in to meet the owlbear. However, her enthusiasm proves to be her undoing. As she reaches out to touch the creature, it reacts defensively, biting her. In retaliation, Lilygrove confronts the owlbear, ultimately driving the majestic creature out of its cave sanctuary.
Venturing down the left-hand path, the party is met with an enchanting sight: an elderly man, blindfolded, seated at a spinning wheel amidst towering piles of gold. With each turn of the wheel, he deftly picks up handfuls of coins, which magically transform into shimmering golden fibres under his touch.
The man introduces himself as Nib and begins to weave his tale. "In my time, I've been a cruel and heartless man," he begins, his voice tinged with regret. "I amassed this wealth by capitalising on the miseries of others, acquiring condemned properties only to rent them out at exorbitant rates." He continues, revealing his connection to Granny Nightshade. "Desiring to atone for my past, I sought Granny Nightshade's guidance. I wished to use my ill-gotten wealth for good. In her wisdom, she cursed me to remain in this cave, transforming my gold into items of use for any who seek me out."
Honouring the ancient rule of hospitality, Nib offers to craft a unique gift for each member of the party. With nimble fingers, he takes up his knitting needles, and in mere moments, fashions objects from the golden yarn. Each creation, while practical, retains a mesmerising golden sheen or incorporates a touch of gold in its design.
As Nib continues his work, the atmosphere in the cave grows palpably tense. The party begins to notice ghostly figures materialising behind the old man. These apparitions vary in form: a dirt-smudged child curiously peering over Nib's shoulder, a skeletal coachman casting an ominous shadow at the cave's rear, a sorrowful woman with elongated features wiping away her tears, and a gaunt youth sporting an eye patch. As quickly as they appear, each spirit fades, only to be replaced by another.
Noticing the party's unease, Nib offers an explanation, his voice heavy with remorse. "I am forever haunted by the consequences of my actions. As long as I use my ill-gotten gains for good, my past misdeeds are meant to stay behind me. Yet, these are the souls I wronged. They linger, forever at my back, reminding me of my sins with their whispers and jabs. I cannot bear to face them, knowing the pain I inflicted."
The conversation takes another turn when the party learns that the owlbear they had encountered earlier was, in fact, Nib's beloved pet, Patrick. Feeling responsible for driving the creature away, the group sets out to retrieve the frightened owlbear. Upon their successful return with Patrick, a grateful Nib offers them sanctuary, allowing the party to take a short rest within the confines of his cave.
As they recuperate, the group engages Nib in conversation, seeking guidance on their next steps. Nib shares valuable information: Granny Nightshade is fervently hunting for Will of the Feywild, a young boy who once aided several children in escaping from Loomlurch. This band of young escapees, known as the Getaway Gang, is under the protection of a treant named Little Oak.
In the dimly lit cave, the atmosphere grows thick with tension. Nib, with a knowing look, turns to Kiara, revealing that her actions in Prismeer have not gone unnoticed. Rumours about her have spread like wildfire. Lilygrove, ever protective of her allies, tries to cast a charm spell to make everyone forget this revelation. However, her magic fails to affect Nib and Talia. In a desperate bid, she urges the charmed members to exit the cave. Her subsequent attempts to charm Talia prove futile. In a fit of anger, Talia hurls a dagger at Lilygrove, leaving a gash on her cheek, which Lilygrove swiftly shapeshifts away.
The situation escalates. Gahr, in an attempt to mediate, presents a talking stick, only for Talia to snatch it away. As accusations fly, with Talia branding Lilygrove a liar, the scene grows chaotic. Kiara, previously leaning against a wall, is suddenly grabbed by Tarin and dragged deeper into the cave. Amidst the commotion, Lilygrove stealthily touches Talia, sending a telepathic message to Kiara: "Twin".
The party demands an explanation from Kiara about the circulating rumours. As she struggles to free herself from Tarin's grasp, she manages to get hold of the talking stick. With all eyes on her, Kiara speaks of her twin, Miara, painting her as the malevolent sibling. Wirth, however, remains sceptical, challenging Kiara to prove her innocence.
Just as the party begins to lean towards believing Kiara, a new figure enters the scene: Miara. Or so it seems. In reality, it's Lilygrove, using her changeling abilities to assume Miara's form. The situation spirals further as Gahr seizes Miara, and both she and Kiara are bound by Wirth and Talia.
Venturing outside, Talia and Gahr discover footprints that confirm Lilygrove's transformation into Miara. Upon questioning, the captured Miara reverts to her base changeling form.
After a tense discussion, an agreement is reached: Lilygrove vows not to cast any spells on the party and commits to maintaining her elven form unless it benefits the group. Kiara, with a heavy heart, reveals a personal vendetta to the party: Endelyn Moongrave was responsible for the death of her wife, which led her to shadow the group. As the atmosphere grows sombre, Lilygrove shares crucial information on how to defeat Bavlorna. Kiara, in turn, offers a wealth of knowledge about Moongrave. Talia, ever the sceptic, questions Kiara's intentions and seeks assurances for the party's safety.
Lilygrove, in a moment of introspection, acknowledges her role in much of the group's internal strife. Recognising the gravity of their shared mission and the need for unity, the party forms a blood pact. They vow to unite against the Hags and their Hourglass Coven, promising to operate as a cohesive unit henceforth.
Amidst this, Nib imparts another piece of wisdom: Granny Nightshade possesses a unique tell. A key protrudes from her back, its speed of rotation indicative of her mood. A rapidly turning key signifies her happiness, while a slow turn reveals her displeasure. If the key halts entirely, it's a clear sign of her fury.
With newfound resolve and a clearer understanding of their adversaries, the party departs from the cave, ready to face the challenges ahead.
Report Date
01 Sep 2023
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