Session 24 - Missing a Femur, It's More Common Than You Think
General Summary
Through the Swamp: How Many Femurs?
Atop Vendetta, the group continues beyond the path marker and deeper into the Swamp. As they continue, the land – although barren – becomes more frequently adorned in gently sloping holes and shallow pits that perhaps once held muck and water. On the afternoon shift, Cadence, Milo, and Teagan decide to avoid the concentrated pocket of miasma that approached. Picking up speed slightly, Vendetta was able to skirt around the pocket. However, the evening crew (Aiaoue, Arkyn, and Yenush) had a different approach. Charging directly forward into the miasma, everyone resists the miasma's attempt to sap their strength, but not its attempt to warp their minds. Aiaoue lunges for an MWD, but misses. As Yenush attempts to stop Aiaoue, he critically punches himself. Sayah turns and stabs Arkyn as he casts on one of the MWDs. Thankfully, Arkyn and MWD #3 only sustain mild injuries.
The miasma thickens and surges over you. The heavy scent of decay assaults you first. And then the smell of death. Corpses litter the path in front of you. The remains of a large arthropod creature are the most obvious; it's stilt-like legs bent and broken at odd angles. The remains of gaunt, plant-like creatures are arranged in a chaotic ring. Some of their bodies have been ripped in half, hurled across the swamp. In the center of the ring is a pair of bodies: Gyésar. One leg of each has been savagely ripped open; red stains the area around their hearts.
Carefully disembarking from Bug-Detta, Aiaoue takes a closer look. The two individuals clearly perished from a blow to the heart and the femur was removed afterward. Why? If the bones were used for a practical purpose, then more bones would have likely been taken. The missing bone may be a trophy. So how many femurs are missing? Did they make soup? Do you prefer left femur soup or right femur soup? As the swamp fades back to the wasteland, the trio stares down at two skeletons, each missing a femur and their ribcage shattered. The blow to the chest clearly was more than a quick stab. Aiaoue also notes a massive footprint nearby of a creature that would be approximately the size of Vendetta.
In the morning, Milo, Cadence, and Teagan encounter another concentrated pocket of miasma. This time, they decide to send Cadence (with Quill) alone into the miasma. Both resist the influence of the miasma as the wasteland gives way to a swamp.
As the miasma thickens and surges, spindly trees form a cage above and around you as you sink waist deep into water and muck. Ahead of you, between the roots of a tree, you see the surface of the green water ripple. A giant, eel-like creature rises, it's skin black as night and covered in a layer of ooze. Its maw is circular and filled with rows of razor-sharp teeth. And then in a blink, instead of a monstrous creature, you see an attractive young man... sitting... waiting.
Cadence immediately calls out hello as Quill drops into a defensive stance. The attractive young man looks at Cadence who suddenly feels compelled to approach. Quill, surprised, is unable to stop Cadence as she takes the young man's hand before being dragged underwater. In the swamp water, the young man transforms back into a slime-coated eel-like monstrousity and bites down on Cadence. The duo snap back to the wasteland, though Cadence has odd indents on her skin matching the jaws of the eel-like creature. Quill admonishes her for her actions as Cadence tries to brush it off as "a little fun" (as she stands there bloodied). The duo are easily able to return to Vendetta. Cadence later apologizes to Quill.
Aiaoue, Arkyn, and Yenush surge the MWDs as they encounter a concnetrated pocket of miasma. This time, only the swamp greets them... though the normal fog has been replaced with a sickly, putrid green one. Aiaoue wraps a piece of clothing over her mouth as they progress through the fog. Everyone feels poisoned, though a bit of food from Aiaoue is enough to remedy that. Everyone is fine...
Cadence, Milo, and Teagan keep the group together to go into the concentrated pocke of miasma that approaches.
As the miasma thickens and surges over you, the smell of death slams into you. The statue, once only of stone, now features an encasing of spindly wood. Both stone and wood are carved with symbols of decay and rot, covered in mushrooms and muck. The skull resting at the top is no longer broken and depicts a large skull with multiple rows of teeth. At the base of the marker, a body rests… a Gyésar. It seems to have been intentionally placed there, seated with its back supported by the stone and eyes closed. The swamp has not yet begun its consumption.
Cadence immediately recognizes the jaw of the skull – that's what bit me! Based on the size of the skull, the creature could – with effort – even swallow Teagan whole. As Cadence looks over the body, she notes that this individual seems to have taken an artistic approach to decay, allowing it to decorate their skin in patterns and designs. They "naturally" died from the decay that took them and were seemingly left here with some degree of respect. Milo looks over the path marker. He has a strong feeling they need to turn slightly. The next two shifts pass relatively uneventfully. Yenush works on a gift, Aiaoue cooks food, and Arkyn works on being better at bird.
Have You Seen a Femur?
As night fall, Aiaoue, Arkyn, and Yenush approach a concentrated patch of miasma. As the swamp emerges around them, they see a group of Mushroom Folk huddled against the roots of a spindly tree as they hide from the lizardfolk that lurk just ahead. The 5 lizardfolk wander near the edge of putrid green water, gleefully smashing patches of mushrooms as they cackle. The skulls and bones that adorn each of them rattle as they swing hefty mauls. And... there is at least one femur on them.
Gathering the rest of the group from within Bug-Detta, the group stealths closer to the Mushroom Folk. Hiding! Careful! "Red" notes that the raiders of Mevetés have certainly gotten bold. Can you fight? Can you hold a dagger? One of the Mushroom Folk hold up its stumpy arms with very tiny little finger nubs. No! As the group prepares for combat, a beautiful Gyésar suddenly emerges from one of the pools of water near the Lizardfolk. Teagan suddenly feels as if the problem might take care of itself. Deciding to wait, the group watches as two Lizardfolk enter the water. Yenush, from a slightly elevated perch, notes the ever so faint outline of a much larger shadow lurking beneath the water. One lizardfolk is dragged under water as the other is nearly consumed whole by a dark, eel-like creature. The remaining Lizardfolk flee. And a moment later, a femur – stripped of flesh – is spat out on the shore.
The Mushroom Folk slowly begin to disentangle themselves from their hiding spots. When asked what that was, the Mushroom Folk note it was a Kel'Nok. Very dangerous! Avoid the waters! Shouldn't we give an offering to Eresh? The Mushroom Folk motion to the water: offering given. They begin to merrily toddle along as they sing jovially about rot, decay, decomposition, and death. Yenush describes the giant footprint they saw earlier and "Red" notes that Mevetés people occasionally rode dinosaurs. It seems they may have brought them into the Swamps. And "Red" vanishes as the wasteland returns.
As the miasma thickens and surges, the swamp greets you, covered in a thin layer of fog. The scent of decay assaults you. A body is half buried in mud ahead of you. (From the body, you watch the faint outline of the figure stand, spectral... but before they can step free of their rotting corpse...) A brilliant light shatters the fog. An ethereal humming reaches your ears as you smell something pleasant. A beautiful woman, flesh unmarred, dances forth. With a smile, she touches the body. The rot and decay are removed… though the body does not rise. (...and the spectral figure forced back within its dead shell.)
Was that Amore? Adore? Aiaoue doesn't recognize the singing.
Another shift passes uneventfully, though something is wrong with Sayah. She wakes with signs of decay covering her body, bags under her eyes, and exhaustion. Sayah assures everyone that she's had worse. Looking her over, Yenush and Cadence both note that it looks like disease, but Lesser Restoration doesn't seem to remedy the issue. Arkyn, however, looking her over suspects it might be a Curse... A curse of rot. When Dispel Magic fails, Sayah is put on bed rest until Cadence can prepare Remove Curse.
Aiaoue, Arkyn, and Yenush are greeted by another pocket of miasma.
The miasma surges and thickens; the thrum of the MWDs persists even as the world around you changes. Ahead of you, a bent, sickly, and warped tree blocks your path, fog delicately dancing around it and between the gnarled roots that jut up from the bog around it. The tree cackles, branches bending in a mockery of limbs as a vaguely humanoid from appears embraced by the trunk.
The rotted dryad calls out to them, beseeching them to approach and she will show them the safest path to home. Hesistant, Arkyn and Aiaoue both intent to discern the creature's intentions... she's clearly mad, but truthful. Yenush tells her to join them on Bug-Detta instead and she rotted dryad merely laughs. Arkyn eventually climbs down and approaches. The rotted dryad asks for an item to sentimental value to which Arkyn offers his lute. A spindly branch pokes Arkyn on the forehead. Guys, you're not going to believe this... I know where to GO. And the wasteland returns... and Arkyn finds his lute where he put it.
You Should Take the Femur
Cadence, Milo, and Teagan are on watch when they enter another pocket of concentrated miasma. They are overcome by the sensation of being violently ripped from deep sleep as adrenaline courses through them. Danger. The symphony of the swamp is swallowed by heavy, thudding footfalls accompanied by woops, whistles, and calls. "Red" ducks out of the way of a Crocodile that soars past his head. Three lizardfolk atop dinosaurs emerge from the swamp followed by a massive T-Rex. (Ironically, the highest initiative rolls went to the people asleep in Bug-Detta).
Milo puts Freedom of Movement on Teagan before ducking behind Bug-Detta. Teagan is unable to get angry before he's the target of 9 attacks. That 21 AC is really working for him, though. The T-Rex targets Bug-Detta, causing one of the MWD's to begin to malfunction and smoke. Cadence gets the old tried and true Spirit Guardians up as Quill hits multiple targets with lightning. Emerging from Bug-Detta, Yenush proceeds to make the T-Rex look like Swiss Cheese. Aiaoue realizes that everything will be dead long before she "suits up" fully. Arkyn takes down the T-Rex.
"Red" decapitates on of the Lizardfolk warriors with his good ol' Vorpal Blade. Hey, you should take a femur instead. As Teagan turns and strikes down one of the Allosaurus, his eyes begin to glow gold. The compliant are in need of purification... and the non-compliant must be purged. Milo tries to cast Dispel Magic on Teagan and then immediately nopes out and moves behind Vendetta. Teagan promsies to come for Milo later as he returns his focus to the enemies around him. With relative ease, the group is able to dispath the raiders. As combat settles, the group is almost violently ripped from the vision and returned to the wasteland.
That Which We've Lost
Teagan, are you okay? Teagan has never felt better. Though, he thinks he should do something that he should have done a long time ago. And he attacks Cadence. Your darkness is more of a detriment than a boon. Quill steps in to defend Cadence, Yenush fires, and Aiaoue knocks Teagan unconscious. Still, Teagan continues to glow as the radiant boon seems to have dug its way into his sternum. As the group debates what to do and how, Teagan is vaguely aware of what is happening from somewhere deep within his mind. To his left, a glowing radiance emerges. To his right, two lines of stone statues. Teagan turns towards the stone statues.
As the light of the radiant boon begins to flicker, the group tries to help. Aiaoue pleads with Teagan to come back; she needs her upfront buddy. Milo urges Teagan to return; his family needs him. Yenush hits Arkyn with the butt of his gun so that Arkyn can – through unconventional spell use – grant Teagan advantage. Cadence offers a few words, but ultimately turns invisible and ducks away.
The radiant light is displeased as it pursues Teagan. However, each set of stone statues – armored and carrying weapons – steps down and blocks the encroaching light. And at the end, a familiar stone-covered figure stands. This time with an arm oustretched in offering. Teagan pauses. Of his two options, she seems like the better choice right now. You will not rest... for I cannot. For now, Teagan notes as he takes her hand.
Teagan convulses as the radiant boon is expelled. Arkyn grabs it and immediately beelines to Sayah to shove it in her weird pouch. Teagan feels slightly exhausted and sensitve to the light as he comes to. Where the radiant boon had begun to dig its way into his sternum, there is now a shard of obsidian. Quill and Aiaoue help Teagan up and into Bug-Detta. Inside Mistress Eight's home, Teagan sees ghosts in his periphery. It's worse now. Aiaoue helps Teagan to Mistress Eight's spas.
When Teagan seems distraught, Aiaoue asks if it would help to talk about it. Teagan notes that he thought he made the right choice, but it's gotten worse. He sees them everywhere now. Who? Ghosts. Teagan tells Aiaoue about how a mine collapsed and it swallowed his home and his brother's. It took Teagan's son and brother; they never found them. You left them unburied. SHUT UP. Teagan explains that he kept the boon because it was helping; he was trying to help. Aiaoue mentions that she would have done the same thing. While Teagan feels guilty that he didn't do enough, perhaps it is better than trying to do too much. Aiaoue began to fear no longer seeing Alcide's face, his smile, his eyes... so she sought Omen's aid in having children. It was then she got her powers... and lost Alcide. Focus on the time you did have with them. And, if you see them as ghosts, they are still with you, in a way. And down the line, perhaps they'll all come back: Alcide, Connor, Liam... wouldn't that be swell.
Sayah inquires as to the situation. Arkyn notes that she cannot let anyone have that boon. You came to the right person; they can pry it from Sayah's cold dead corpse. Exactly why Arkyn came to Sayah directly!
Quill finds Cadence; are you alright? Cadence notes that Teagan has attacked her before, but that was the miasma. This felt personal. Quill notes that, while he's not completely sure what's going on, Teagan didn't seem like himself. And there was a time when Quill wasn't himself, and he hurt a lot of people. Kindness, hard as it may be, could go a long way.
Outside of Bug-Detta, the Swamps... and Eresh await.
Today's Sendings
| Sent | Response |
|---|---|
| Arkyn: “Destroying Iron Arrow is the last thing we want, but more gods are out there, we have to go out and look for them.” | Ironborn: “What you want is inconsequential next to– nevermind. The Void Maiden killed one… nothing was resolved, miasma remained. Good luck, I suppose.” |
| Arkyn: “Well not “dead” dead, like in weird dream prison cocoon. Wait, why would the Void Maiden’s time have been a waste? Also, progress report, please.” | Khalil: “An important, albeit still vague, distinction. If within her power, she should have been doing so. A moot point now. Resurrecting the divine has… complications.” |
| Arkyn: “Not Dremoran gods, Jalasar gods. I’m connected to a Night god and cause of our ping the god you’re connected to has a kinship with mine.” | Delilah: “Oh, I don’t know anything about Jalasaran gods; I fear I’m still unable to answer your query. I enjoy preparing the lighting for our performances.” |
| Arkyn: “That is the plan; on our way to face a Death god that has cursed one I travel with. Using it to learn weaknesses.” | Auntie: “Keep yourself out of harm’s way. Observe from a distance; let your cursed companion bear the brunt. Death and Night overlap, but only slightly so.” |
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