Session Five of "The Horrors Beyond the Crypt!"

General Summary

At 8am on May 27th, 3168 Era of Blood, Bianca wakes up hearing a loud crash, Kimball and her rush downstairs to notice Darvaaq and William fighting. Esmeralda is cowering behind the bar too as she tells them to stay upstairs. William is not doing so good and Darvaaq is about to kill Esmeralda by a word spell, Power Word Kill. Before it gets to her William jumps infront of it and turns to a pile of ash. After, Darvaaq is suppose to go after the others but Bianca wakes up in a panic. She sees that Kimball is gone and hurries down stairs. A bit distressed she sits by Kimball and talks to him about what just happened. She starts to try telling him about the premonition, however, William comes in with Esmeralda and says to the crowded tavern that, drinks are on him. With that, Bianca starts to panic a bit more, since it appears that the vision is starting to come true. She explains more to Kimball about the vision and how Esmeralda was supposedly in the Dawnbury woods when William found her. William sits beside them, all chipper, and starts explaining how he had a gut feeling about checking the woods while he was sobering up the night prior. Bianca starts filling in William about the vision, having a hard time believing her about it all. As it appears, Aqualis and Alyndra are going to get married, that night, at 8PM. William flips Bianca a Platinum coin and tells her to go with Kimball to get an outfit for the wedding. 
To get more insight about the vision, Bianca tries to contact the Dapper Dabber, but to no avail. He is unable to give her any definitive answers and is overall not helpful, to no one's surprise. He does suggest that she go admit herself to the nearest hospital. Before he hangs up with her, he does mention to pray to the Gods to get answers, so Kimball and Bianca start to pray to Tetra, the Goddess who contacted them before the Battle of Oceania. There is no response from Tetra, the only thing that happens is that an iridescant spectral butterfly floats gently across Bianca's vision before poofing into sparkles. She discusses this with Kimball, however, he doesn't see it. She takes that as a sign from Tetra that something is going to happen. Kimball states that he forgot his chainmail in the room and they leave to go get it. Bianca gets William to listen to her about following her and Kimball upstairs, along with Esmeralda. Against his better judgement, he agrees, not fully believing her about the vision. They all head upstairs but as William goes up, he trips, but Kimball and Bianca are already in the room. They hear the crash from William tripping and fear the worst. However, moments later, William and Esmeralda come up, laughing at the fact that William tripped and ate shit. Bianca lets out a sigh of relief and has to rest a moment, fearing the worst had happened. Moments later, the tavern downstairs goes quiet. Bianca, once again, panics. William wants to go check it out. After trying to persuade him, he doesn't listen, as he goes down, Bianca and Kimball staying with Esmeralda. It's still quiet, and just before Bianca thinks of going down there, William comes back, saying the tavern is participating in a suprise engagement party for Alyndra and Aqualis., hence the lack of noise. William heads downstairs, wanting to greet their friends once the surprise is let out by the tavern patrons, and Esmeralda follows. Kimball starts to head down and stops when he notices that Bianca isn't following. She takes a moment to try to regain herself, as he tries to reassure her that everything is alright. They hear a crash from downstairs and hurry there.
The vision seems to repeat itself, with some different details, Darvaaq is in the tavern, paralyzing William and Esmeralda is hiding behind the bar. Darvaaq mentions of wanting their heads for Yharm and wants to start with Esmeralda. William turns and looks at Bianca, stating that he is sorry (presumably for not believing her vision) and leaps in front of Esmeralda as Darvaaq speaks his power word kill spell. William turns to a pile of ash immediately. From the pile of William's remains, an iridescant spectral butterfly floats upwards, before disappearing like before. Darvaaq states that he wasn't aiming for William, however, he'll get the rest of the party. Kimball tries to attack Darvaaq with his shortsword, however, is flung away, becoming unconcious. Before Darvaaq can attack Bianca, she wakes up in a panic, once again, as the day seems to repeat itself for the second time.
Again, Kimball is not there when she awakes, so Bianca hurries downstairs. Kimball greets her, but in a panicked state, she's frozen by fear and anxiety. Kimball, worried, gets her to sit by him. She can't speak and is trying to wrap her head around what is going on. Meanwhile, William comes into the tavern, upset, without Esmeralda. Kimball begins to worry as to what's going on. Bianca starts to mention that she's already lived this day, and as Kimball worries, the men listen to what Bianca has to say. She tries to fill them in, however, she becomes an emotional mess. Kimball, trying to get her to relax, attempt to get her upstairs where she can lie down. Before heading up, William informs them of his gut feeling of the woods, but appears to have found nothing. He also informs them that Aqualis and Alyndra are getting married, which causes Bianca to panic more. She gets more upset and escort her upstairs, as she is starting to make a scene in the tavern and people are looking at her. The guys go before her, per her protest, and they make it to the room. Before Bianca enters, another iridescant butterfly appears before her. Once again, nobody but her witnesses it though. Bianca rests and prays to Tetra for an answer...
From Tetra: "Bianca Farless, Adventurer of Oceania, I read you, I am sending prophetic visions to you. These are of Daggerveil when you arrive. Be weary and be safe. Help is coming."
Still worried about her, the men question her of her vision. To her relief, William and Kimball act different than her previous visions. She fills them in on what has been happening to her and, thankfully, some details are appearing to be different. Such as the wedding being the following night, not today. Also, William not having Esmeralda with him, as well as the two men's demeanors being different, like William believes her this time. She comes to the revelation that her visions are being skewed by her fresh memories of Dawnbury. The visions, as per Tetra's explaination, are for Daggerveil, not the town they are in, Dawnbury. William forbids the party from splitting up and Kimball informs the group of the iridescant butterflies and their significance. According to a book he read while in Sapphiria, the butterflies are a sign of a "Soulstice." He explains that in the Era of Demise, there are records of people witnessing an iridescant butterfly before someone of great stature, like a hero of some sort against Yharm, before their death. He also informs them that a "Soulstice" takes half a year to 'rebuild' someone. It is theorized by Kimball that the Soulstice is a method to rebirth those of great importance by the Gods. Bianca also recalls that Tetra said that 'help is coming.' They ponder what this could mean. They talk for a little while longer about all of this information, then the party sets out to complete bounties to earn some coin for the wedding.

Character(s) interacted with

-William Buyin' of Oceania -Esmeralda Aratois of Oceania -Kimball Cho of Sapphiria -Bianca Farless of Daggerveil -Darvaaq, the Lich, of Terra Terrorium -Tetra, Goddess of the Wilderness, of Terra Etheria -The Dapper Dabber, Demon of Swag

Report Date

03 Feb 2024

Primary Location

Dawnbury

Related Characters

• Alyndra Elazana of Dawnbury
• Aqualis Boulderbrew of Dawnbury [The Dame of Flame]
• Bianca Farless of Daggerveil
• Darvaaq, the Lich, of Terra Terrorium
• Esmeralda Viola Aratois of Oceania
• Kimball Cho of Sapphiria
• Tetra, Goddess of the Wilderness and Fertility
• The Dapper Dabber, the Demon of Swag
• William "Whaddaya" Buyin' of Oceania