Session 30: Confronting Hysteria, The Paper Bird, and Weresnails Attack!
General Summary
Confronting Hysteria
The session began shortly after meeting Meets Travelers, and while she didn't do much this session, she was ever present and ever probably just sleeping on the cart, who knows? Hysteria kept an eye on her though, and Namina painted her aura. Some of you, Agave, DAN Wildcloak, Frode and Kaswink, were all quite tired after not sleeping for a full day and all the excitement that came with that. You all managed to push through the day though without issue, and Kaswink eventually suggested pulling over to make camp and rest for the benefit of the Salamanders pulling your Amphibious Cart at the least. Pancake and Flapjack were each untied and allowed some time to get some much needed rest. Hysteria volunteered to keep watch during this lengthy rest, and as the camp was being set up, Agave had some questions for Tympi. He first asked if there were any threats that they should worry about while they slept, and as Tympi attempted stretched and wiped her eyes some strange ink-like black substance was left on her hands. She tried to get the question repeated from Agave, but Hysteria jumped in asking if the unusual fluid was normal. The Page of Swords of course translated Hysteria's messages since Tympi was still very much blind. She was confused by the question, not able to see what was causing the concern. Hysteria explained the situation, and she simply confirmed it is not normal before brushing Hysteria's concerns aside and returning her attention to Agave. Perhaps avoiding the line of questioning that would've logically been brought up... "Dangers may approach us, dangers that may want to fight me in this weakened state, but we should be fine if we stop and rest. I will put up a bluff for you, hang my lantern and stand on top of your cart while you rest. Scare off anything that comes nearby." Agave was concerned, asked Tympi if she needs to rest, though she denied needing to or being able to do such things outside the mothlights. Even with Namina's additional concern, she simply explained she can only sleep while at home. She apparently needs the light of her tree to be able to gain any benefit from sleep. She also chuckled, lightheartedly, at DAN's joke about her needing a nightlight.While the rest of you were sleeping, Hysteria and Namina had a little conversation. Feel free to read it below! Or don't. Their Conversation
The conversation was carried out in sign language to avoid the eavesdropping of the nearby guide(s).
Namina "How old are you really?"
Hysteria "I am 100 years old, my birthday was last week....I think."
They discussed when Hysteria's birthday might be, and Hysteria was curious why this was being brought up.
Namina "I saw sort of what happened back in the weird labyrinth. Everything we've heard about Elves here is about not being able to die or go into the Cycle and you serve "Him" so can you blame me for being a little curious?
By "Him", Namina was referring to the person on the throne towards the end of The Maze. An incredibly elderly looking vigure surrounded completely in darkness with the only light in the room gently illuminating him. He was missing a crown which seemed to be made of stone, very heavy and dense, though it had constantly shifting shades of grey that licked off the tips of the crown like fire. Hysteria had an extensive conversation with this king, and it was assumed by Namina that Hysteria serves him.
At this time, Hysteria looked behind themselves before claiming that they don't serve anybody. Namina was, of course, suspicious why they would look behind themselves.
Namina "You don't have to tell me everything... I'm not trying to put you on the spot, I just- how many times have we almost died here? How many times have you almost died here? I feel like with all that we've been through, shouldn't you trust us a little more?"
Hysteria "I am telling you the truth about my age and everything."
Namina saw through the lies about who Hysteria serves, though saw a glimpse of truth in how old they are.
Namina "I'm worried, Hysteria, if the elves are really doing what I think they are doing and why I am here is to stop them, I'm worried that you are on their side? What if you serve the same person?"
Hysteria "No. I cannot trust you with a lot of information, but two things: My interests are not aligned with these elves you're talking about, I do not concern myself with a higher power. I know that I am on the side of justice. What I do is not something I can talk to anyone about, but it is important, and it is not dark. It's nothing like that. I don't want to say that you can trust me, and I won't ask you because I cannot trust you with this information...so there's no reason you can trust me. Though I do know for an absolute fact that I am not allied with them, and if what I do became allied with them, then I would change it because that is not who I am. It is not what I have been taught, it is not what I have been held to the standard of nor will it ever be."
Namina believed this, and explained that she does trust Hysteria even if they don't trust her. Hysteria explained that they do trust her, they just can't trust her with this information. The feeling was mutual for Namina. They continued discussing trust and what it means.
Namina "This is off topic, but do you know any elf circuses? Like, circuses ran by elves?"
Hysteria cut Namina off as she continued trying to clarify, they seemed a bit quick to do so, and they claimed there were "None". They also asked for clarification.
Namina "It has to do with what I saw with the tattoo thing. I saw my brother in a display..."
Hysteria was shocked to hear this, genuinely taken aback. They asked for clarification.
Namina "There are some elves that don't see my people as people. Anyways, my brother was in a tank and was meant to be entertainment."
Hysteria was disgusted by this. Though they didn't seem to be aware of any particular circuses, just aware that some likely existed for children. They also offered to reach out to some friends about it when they get back to the material plane.
The Paper Bird
Several hours later, the rest of you started to wake up. Some light activity was enjoyed by all including Kaswink as she started to work on a new project using some of the crystals from the Refracted Stalker. She was able to carve off a couple of pieces and begin shaving it into two narrow cylinders, almost like lenses, as well as a couple of larger oval shapes. She utilized science to ground herself which provided some defense against the unusual magic held within. Agave started looking for plants, ideally something that would help with healing negative status conditions. He managed to find Courageous Black Moss and some Tall Eye Grass. He tasted them both and discovered that the moss made him more courageous and the grass helped his vision. DAN practiced their juggling and took some geology-dude notes on the crystal that Kaswink was working on. They also performed some maintenance on the group's tools and weaponry. Namina began painting Tympi and her aura. Bright Indigo and magenta in color, and it seemed that her aura didn't come from the usual black silhouette of the person she was painting. Instead, Tympi's aura came from a simple ball of white light, unusual. The journey continued and the surrounding area gradually began to fill with fog. Tympi set up her lantern to provide some extra light.As the cart continued rolling on through the night deeper into this ever thicker fog, you all heard the sound of wings fluttering and the crinkling of paper. It sounded like it was stuck somewhere as these flapping wings weren't getting any farther away or any closer aside from the approach of the cart. Her curiosity peaked, Kaswink looked around, namely up into the air for the source of this noise, and she saw a Paper Bird stuck in the branches of a nearby tree. The fog was quickly making this unusual creature less visible, but Kaswink braved the elements and left the cart to try and free it. She instructed Pancake and Flapjack to slow down, and climbed the tree to grab the folded paper bird. Namina ran after Kaswink, demanding to know what she as doing, and Kaswink casually explained she's helping a bird. Kaswink easily climbed the tree, and the distance she put distance between herself and the rest of the group she found herself alone in this tree, the fog obscuring any vision of her allies. Suddenly alone in the fog she heard knocking behind her head, as if it were loudly banging on the tree she was in. Kaswink ignored this knocking and descended the tree. Namina used some crazy magic powers to cause a gust of wind to disperse the fog so she could see the cart and the cart was back at full speed as everyone climbed aboard. Tympi noticed the concern and heard the discussion on knocking and not answering the door. She explained that she answered the door once when she heard knocking, and it was revealed that you all were to some extent aware of this due to having The Field Guide. She was curious who you received this journal from, and it was explained that your benefactor provided it to you for this expedition from the "Material Plane". Tympi was...confused by the label, claiming that there are materials here and she's made of materials, right? Namina suggested that Tympi might be from the material plane herself, but even Tympi doesn't know where she's from. It was further explained that all the travelers, including Basil, are likely all from this "material plane". There was some discussion about how to get the cart going faster. Kaswink wanted to be pushing the cart with Pancake and Flapjack as she felt uncomfortable having them work harder without her putting in the effort as well. Tympi offered to instead just make the cart lighter, though it would be quite taxing on her already exhausted self and this offer was rejected. In the end, the cart went about its slightly faster speed and the journey through this night fog continued.
While riding along, Kaswink began investigating the Paper Bird she had found. She first tried petting it and seeing if it ate anything. It seemed uninterested in any food, though it did act like a bird and even groomed itself when Kaswink asked if it would be okay to open it after discovering some writing on the paper it was made from. As Kaswink started to open it one fold at a time, its body became less and less animated until only the tips of its wings and beak remained until those too were unfolded. Inside, Kaswink found writing. Incredibly small writing like someone was trying to fit way too much information on a single bird, and she began to read it out loud for the whole class. Unusually, as Kaswink was reading, her voice came through clear and without struggling over any words as she normally would. It's unclear if this is just because she was reading or if it was something magical about the paper. Additionally, as she read this writing, she began to feel as if she were really in the scenes that were being recorded. She felt the warmth of the cozy family home, smelled the dinner cooking on the stove, felt the comforting embrace of family, and even the longing to experience it again as this person surely did. In another section of the writing she felt cold, hungry, and rejected by society...a feeling not entirely foreign to Kaswink, especially since whoever wrote this supposedly felt like they were cursed and unable to be perceived the way they truly are. While some of these memories and emotions were certainly relatable for Kaswink, as she read them they became even more than that. They seemed to fill her mind and become her own memories. The fact that she is reaching out to Basil and has a brother suggests that this is likely Anise. Paper Bird Memories
This is payment for some food…It’s been a few days since I arrived, and I left most of my food and other survival gear behind… I was just dancing, I didn’t think that I’d actually pass through this gate. This land is so beautiful, but I need food… Anyways, they wanted a memory so I guess I should probably write that. “When we were younger, mom would always tell Basil and I stories. Fairies, spirits, giants, and they were always just stories. But here, here they seem real. I remember lying in bed, a few feet away from me my brother was also in his own bed listening intently to the story of The Missing Children. One of those fairy tales with a moral, you know? That’s one of my earliest memories… listening to my mother warn me about not wandering off alone, not getting lost and never being found. Basil was so little, I guess I was too. I remember when we still shared a room before I demanded my own space. The thick tome that my mom was always reading to us from. I remember that night there was rain...lots and lots of rain." I guess it would be an appropriate memory to sell for food and survival gear since I didn’t listen to it anyways and ended up here with no way back. I’m sure she’s terrified...and poor Basil. I hope he didn’t follow me through, and if he did I hope we find each other soon, it looks like it’s going to rain soon.
On the back there was more writing. It seems that there are, for some reason, two different memories stored here. The first was payment for some food, but the second seems more like a journal entry or an attempt to contact her brother.
I’m so lost, alone, cold and no one will let me in… I need to get a message to Basil. “Dearest brother, despite not being able to find you myself...and not sure if you are even here yet, I am hoping that this message will find you. These are likely my last moments. Even as I’m writing this it is harder to move the pen with the cold weight of the rain. I haven’t had much to eat and it seems like wherever I go I just end back up in the same place, lost, this shouldn’t be happening. I’m a survivalist, dammit. I don’t know if it has something to do with whatever curse must have befallen me but no one will open their doors. I knock, and I knock, but nobody ever answers. Is this place just cruel? Or am I no longer who I thought I once was. I just want a fire, to get dry, to eat something, to have someone’s company… I hope that I can provide you some warmth with thoughts of mom’s cooking. Dinner rolls fresh out of the oven, green beans on the stove, a cast iron pan with some ground meat, apples, and that weird hollow bread that she’d line with yogurt. That was always my favorite meal. The best part about it was having everyone there, the warmth of the fire, and the stories dad would tell from his day."
Kaswink attempted to fold the paper back into its bird shape hoping to reanimate it. The bird was motionless, however, and attentions once again turned towards Tympi hoping to figure out how to reanimate it. Apparently these paper cranes need memories to live, and the memory that was animating this one had been taken by Kaswink. With this in mind, Kaswink decided to donate one of her more pleasant, meaningful (though sad) memories to a new paper bird. After writing it all down and folding up her paper into a bird, Kaswink attempted to send it to find Anise once again. Namina suggested there's more to it than that, and Tympi suggested a candle. She was a bit...vague and mysterious about the reason behind a candle and just said that "you need to get the memory going!" when pressed for more info. Perhaps the exhaustion is getting the better of her, no matter, the candle was produced and lit. Her next instructions were to burn the memory, which Kaswink did, and the paper bird did burn in this fire briefly before suddenly starting to move within the flames as it came to life. It cleaned itself, tested its wings, and then flew off into the air. Agave noted the direction it went was to the North, at least for now.
Weresnails Attack!
As the journey continued, Agave and Hysteria began working on ways to develop something from these new plants that they found. They discovered that the Grass could be used in a cure for Blindness while the Moss could be used to prevent being Frightened. The revelation that this grass could be used to help Tympi SEE again was brought up by Agave, and Hysteria explained that they are more proficient with making poisons than curatives...though they'd be willing to help by making a poison and an antidote for that poison. Hysteria also, during this time, began making another attempt at a cure for DAN's Swamp Fever. They were able to apply this to DAN, at first while they were juggling, but then DAN finally stopped and allowed the doctor to do their thing. Their symptoms subsided including their fever, clamminess and generally aching feet. Hysteria seems to have finally developed a cure for this disease. This is especially useful if you're going back into the swamp. The downtime and journeying eventually brought the time to around 1 in the morning on Nurend 19, 308. Tympi was starting to shift, lean forward, she seemed to notice that you were all getting close to the tree. Agave decided to sniff about, and his approach to perception noticed that there was a new, unpleasant odor in the air. It smelled like digestion, slimy, just a strange offal smell. Not too long after this, a loud noise was heard in the distance along with a grotesque slimy slug-like noise somewhere in the forest.Up ahead, Agave saw two trails of slime cutting across the path that you were all on. One of these paths was definitely slime, but the other was quickly discovered to actually be glass or, at the very least, some crystalline material. Whatever crossed seemed to have turned whatever it crawled over into glass. Agave was worried about Flapjack and Pancake, and he alerted Kaswink to the potential hazard of crawling over glass. Kaswink stopped the cart and went ahead to pick a glass flower, as she did she heard the sound of some creature crying out in pain. It sounded like an elk, and it was almost immediately followed with more of the strange squelching sound like some slimy creature crawling over a tree. While Kaswink was out and about, the rest you asked Tympi if she knew what was going on. She suggested that it could be snails as there are apparently snails here that can turn whatever they crawl over into glass. She mentioned that there are also significantly larger, faster Weresnails as well. Agave was concerned and wanted to know how far away you all were from the Mothlight Tree that you were heading towards. She extinguished her lantern, felt the air and light around her while listening to Agave discover the area. She explained you were about 4 hours away. This put Agave a bit more at ease as this creature would be unlikely to turn the tree into glass as well. Agave began trying to cover the glass on top with dirt from below using his super special magic powers, and he began this process wandering away from the cart and down the path. Loud noises throughout the forest were also heard, and Kaswink began to sneak towards a silhouette of some burly humanoid she saw in the distance outlined in the fog.
The rest of the group, deciding to hang back at the cart, soon felt your cart begin to shake. Turning toward the window it was quickly revealed that the source of this shaking was a big ol' weresnail trying to damage your cart and reach in to grab Tympi. This weresnail was largely unsuccessful in its desires and was instead quickly dispatched by the combined efforts of everyone but Kaswink. Defending Tympi was successful, but Kaswink was no where to be seen and there were likely more of these creatures. Kaswink, on the other hand, was sneaking into the forest to get a closer look at this humanoid creature she saw. She found an even bigger weresnail with a glass shell. She was able to sneak up to it as it was busy consuming some animal flesh at the time, and she attacked it from behind. Her attack badly damaged this snail, but it turned around and began its own assault on her which eventually resulted in her being knocked unconscious shortly after this Glass Shell Weresnail roared at her, gathering the attention of the rest of you. Hoping to help Kaswink defeat whatever she is fighting, you all, sans Frode, loaded into the the cart and maneuvered through the forest towards the sound of the scream. Just before the cart started moving, Tympi used her lantern to prevent any threats from getting closer, but Frode was unfortunately left in the darkness with a now unseen enemy approaching him. Kaswink was found unconscious near this massive Weresnail, a second weresnail was slowly approaching from behind your cart, though Agave had taken on the aspect of a Tree to hamper the movement of these enemies even further. This saved Kaswink, though the one hit from her original foe did manage to at long last infect her with Salinkanthropy. The session ended there. Top of the round with an unconscious Kaswink and Frode left in the dark.
In-Game Date:
Nurend 18-19, 308
Discovered Spirits
Paper Birds
Discovered Creatures
Weresnails
Discovered Diseases
Salinkanthropy
Discovered Cures
Swamp Fever
Re-encountered Creatures
Fjarverand
Discovered Plants
Courageous Black Moss
Tall Eye Grass
Nurend 18-19, 308
Report Date
23 May 2022
Primary Location
Related Plots
Related Characters
Paper Birds
Discovered Creatures
Weresnails
Discovered Diseases
Salinkanthropy
Discovered Cures
Swamp Fever
Re-encountered Creatures
Fjarverand
Discovered Plants
Courageous Black Moss
Tall Eye Grass
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