Session 013 - The Return to Loomlurch
General Summary
The session unfolded with the introduction of Mila, a seemingly young girl with an inexplicable connection to the Feywild. As the party gathered, a familiar whistling tune echoed through the air triggering emotions in Lilygrove and Gahr, leaving the latter in tears. Lilygrove, fuelled by suspicion, attacked Pippa the Harengon, leading to a tense confrontation where Lilygrove demanded that the harengon kisses her hand, which she responded “you can kiss my knife”. Mila, unexpectedly, unleashed wild magic, and chaos ensued as Lilygrove attempted to cast a spell, only for it to backfire and knock her down. Gahr ever the beacon of inspiration, urged the group into a group hug, but Lilygrove’s bloodthirst tendencies cast a shadow over the moment. Amidst the tumult, Pippa revealed her disdain for Bavlorna, although Lilygrove remains unconvinced. Gahr’s memory was jogged, recalling a past encounter with Pippa during a robbery. Klej the arakocra explains that he is from a different plane of existence, and Gahr makes some amusing banter about winter migration. Mila shared her tale of arriving through the mirrors in the Hall of Illusions in the Witchlight Carnival and discovering her magical abilities. The revelation that Mila, despite her appearance, had spent 32 years in Prismeer left the party astounded. Klej joined the group, motivated by a shared purpose – to confront the hags responsible for harming children.
Amidst the revelations, Gahr knocks his ear and a silver piece humorously falls out. Sloane continues her bullying of Lilygrove which prompts Lilygrove to tell the wood elf child that Will is probably dead, causing the child to cry. The party decide to return to Loomlurch to see if they could find something to save the fallen party members, which Lilygrove shows her point by showing Pippa the bodies in the bag of holding. Pippa leaves the tree house, and the others are suddenly engulfed in darkness. Lilygrove attempting to depart, is confronted by a mysterious voice inquiring about Sloane’s cries. Gahr clarifies that Sloane is emotionally wounded, not physically harmed. As the darkness dissipates, Will emerges from the shadows. Lily overwhelmed by frustration, throws a temper tantrum and storms out with Mila in tow.
Will informs that 11 children were held captive, and the party successfully liberated 6, leaving 5 still in captivity. Gahr, prepared to act, escorts Mila, and overhears a whispered exchange between Sloane and Will, exclaiming “Jabberwock”. However, Sloane remains tight-lipped, refusing to divulge any further information.
Meanwhile, Lilygrove captivates Mila with her ability to morph her fingernails into claws and back. Impressed, Mila expresses admiration, prompting Lilygrove to offer her guidance in the art. The group departs from Little Oak for Loomlurch.
Encountering a trio of pixies engaged in a tea party, the group is summoned to settle a dispute regarding the definition of a wedge-shaped piece of wood. Gahr lightens the mood with a jest before providing an answer. In gratitude, the pixies gift him a reed whistle enchanted with the Conjure Woodland Beings spell. The magical item allows the summoning of three woodland beings – Spiderlily, Cowslip, and Maypole. Gahr entrusts the whimsical instrument to Pippa.
Upon reaching Loomlurch, Juniper the owlbear awaits outside. Gahr attends to her, feeding the creature, while Mila affectionately pats her. Despite Lilygrove's inclination to attack, Gahr persuades her to show restraint.
Will, opting for solo endeavors, separates from the group. As they enter the initial room, a table adorned with tea and cake catches their attention. Gahr, in his unique approach, slices the table in half with his sword. In the aftermath, a chaotic series of events unfolds—Gahr stumbles, accidentally causing Mila to fall. To their surprise, three chairs in the room morph into mimics.
Reacting instinctively, Mila unleashes eldritch blasts on two of the mimics. Lilygrove employs hex on the third and follows it up with a booming blade. The mimics retaliate, with one grappling Gahr, another attacking Pippa, and the third ensnaring Lilygrove. Gahr, wielding his sweeping blade, strikes at the mimics, while Pippa employs her rapier and dagger against them. Mila, unfortunately, witnesses her acid splash having no effect on one mimic, leading to a sense of frustration.
Klej intervenes with blessings, aiming to fortify Lilygrove, Gahr, and Pippa. Lilygrove unleashes booming blade once more on a mimic. The mimics persist in their assault, grappling and attacking, forcing the party into a desperate struggle. Gahr loses his sword in the chaos, and Klej, showcasing his healing abilities, attempts to mend the injuries sustained by the group.
Lilygrove caresses mimic 3, casting a curse upon it before launching an attack. Mimic 1 targets Gahr, while mimic 2 goes after Pippa, grappling her. Simultaneously, mimic 3 assaults Lilygrove. Gahr grapples mimic 1, forcefully pushing it to the ground and pressing its face into the floor. In a swift series of moves, Pippa eliminates mimic 2 and stabs mimic 1. Mila, in a display of magical prowess, eldritch blasts mimic 3, causing it to turn to stone. Klej then casts inflict wounds on mimic 1, sealing its demise. Lilygrove, to escape the clutches of the stone mimic, undergoes a shape change. Mila, regaining her position on Gahr's shoulders, leads the way through the next room, ultimately kicking down the door. In this room adorned with 10 structures, six doors remain closed while four stand open.
A curious box with a crank captures Lilygrove's attention. As she turns the crank, a haunting tune resonates, but upon opening the box, it reveals nothing. Lilygrove, undeterred, decides to knock on one of the closed doors. To everyone's surprise, all six doors swing open, revealing six tin soldiers emerging from within. Lilygrove enshrouds her amulet in darkness, pulls Klej along, exits the room, and firmly closes the door behind them. Gahr secures the door, and Lilygrove dispels the darkness. Venturing into the garden, Gahr and Mila ascend a staircase leading to the room where Mila was once held—a sewing room now occupied by Pincushion, a living doll. Inquisitive about their presence, Pincushion appeals for help, summoning the six tin soldiers into the room.
The soldiers descend the stairs in pairs, prompting the group to strategize a bottleneck. Gahr attempts to grapple soldiers 1 and 2, successfully securing the hold on soldier 2. Mila, invoking dark energy, casts Arms of Hadar against soldiers 1-4. Soldier 1 jumps off the stairs, soldier 2 attacks Gahr, soldier 3 jumps off, soldier 4 climbs down, soldier 5 climbs down, and soldier 6 walks down. Pippa dispatches soldier 3, only to witness its unnerving resurrection. Lilygrove, reinforcing her defenses, casts the Armor spell and repositions herself. Klej swings at soldier 4 with a mace, unfortunately missing, and fortifies the group with Shield of Faith. Gahr, feeling a bit queasy, manages to maintain his composure.
Gahr engages and dispatches mimic 1, turns his fury towards mimic 4, vehemently exclaiming, "Fucking die!" Mila conjures a chaos vault targeting mimic 4. In retaliation, mimic 4 attacks Gahr, while the remaining four assail Pippa. Despite Pippa's efforts to eliminate one (X), it revives and bounds away like a rabbit. Lilygrove cloaks the area in darkness with her amulet. Klej tends to Gahr's wounds, who experiences a minor bout of nausea but manages to suppress it.
Gahr resumes his onslaught, vanquishing mimic 4. Mila, strategically waiting, releases an eldritch blast as the four soldiers move away from the darkness. Pippa ascends the stairs and shoots at mimic 6, while Lilygrove hexes and attacks. Klej, attempting an aerial assault, unfortunately misses mimic 6 and damages a claw. Undeterred, Gahr ascends the stairs, leaping towards mimic 6, causing Mila to fall and sustain injuries. Despite Gahr's attempt to slice mimic 6 upon landing, he misses. Mila, undeterred by a splinter in her finger, stands and casts Toll the Dead, narrowly missing. In the ensuing chaos, mimic 6 attacks Gahr, while the others focus on Lilygrove. Pippa, from the stairs, shoots at mimic 6. Lilygrove hexes and attacks, and Klej, still airborne, misses mimic 6.
Gahr rallies, eliminating mimic 6, then retreats into the darkness, taking a wild swing that connects. Mila, holding her eldritch blast, targets a tin soldier when it appears. The soldiers retaliate, landing hits on Gahr. Pippa holds her attack, awaiting the appearance of a tin soldier. Lilygrove, lifting the darkness, allows Pippa and Mila to unleash their attacks. Pippa dispatches one, only to witness its frustrating revival. Klej's attack falls short. Gahr continues his assault, bringing down the last soldier. The group decides to explore the tin soldiers' barracks, encountering various rooms. Gahr discovers an empty store room/workshop, Lilygrove finds an empty cupboard, and Klej opens a moth-filled cupboard containing a girl with a pig face. Recognizing the Sowpig tales, Gahr recalls from Myrtle's stories, and Lilygrove reminisces from Myrtle's journals. Sowpig attempts to bite Gahr, prompting both Lilygrove and Mila to employ eldritch blasts. Klej subdues her, and Lilygrove, tying her up and removing her pig mask, reveals a ghoul-like visage. The group secures her in the bag of holding as a precaution.
Opening the last door reveals a room with five portraits—an enigmatic dark-haired woman and four hags. Lilygrove, intrigued, touches the woman's portrait, pricking her finger on a thorn, causing the portraits to transform. The one in front shifts to Lilygrove, while the others depict:
· A beautiful elven woman with tentacles protruding from her eyes
· A handsome human man with short black hair, strangled by flowering vines
· Two infants resembling Lilygrove, their features mirroring her own, with limbs being ripped apart.
Report Date
03 Nov 2023
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