Session 12: A Sacrifice
General Summary
The party set out westwards towards the city of Varynovik after leaving Nori Silverfall and Einar Coldshade at the cabin they lodged in around the Silverpine Lake.
Shortly into their daily hike, however, they encounter a group of armed warriors escorting a priest and a muffled captive. Fighting breaks out quickly and despite struggling at first, the party manages to overcome the enemy and capture the priest. They gather that the group belongs to the Rebirth Conclave on their way south for an important ritual, from the amulets they were wearing and the confessions of the priests, slightly influenced by an Axe shoved into his throat. The party seemingly manages to convince the priest that they belong to the cult as well and would like to meet the leader of this section of the cult. The party follows the priest towards the banks of the Glaciermere where they meet up with the captive muffled man, that is being held by a large warrior. They had been earlier permitted to pass through while the priest was interrogated.
As they reach the shore, the priest, named Notti Portant, puts a hand on Starsparks shoulder and explains that at the other side of this ice covered lake is the entrance towards the temple's location in which the ritual is held. Notti casts inflict wounds on the feline barbarian in an effort to knock out the strongest link and run away from the still injured party. He overestimates his powers, though, as Starspark is still standing and now grabs the priest's arm in a tight bind.
Simultaneously, the muffled man wrestles himself free and attacks his former captor, almost killing him singlehandedly with his fists. The wood-elf introduces himself as Newin Sekiro, a monk from the far eastern lands. He was on his way to the Shirokaze Isle to gather a Scroll of Light on board of captain Anya Volynskaya's ship when disaster struck. Both ended up captives of the cult and were prepared to be sacrifices. Despite having got separated, Niwen fears that captain Anya is still captive and about to be said ritual by the cult.
After some attempts at interrogation, the party set out to enter the rebirth temple and stop the cult. Indeed, at the foot of the glacier is a cave that leads them deep underground towards the entrance of temple remains. Ancient stone work imposes a threshold in front of them, with a red-stained ritual bowl in front of them. On the edge of the bowl lays a dagger, and Niwen recognises that this is an entrance test by the god of this temple. He volunteered, and Misa used her medical knowledge to deliver a non-painful cut to draw blood from the wood-elf. Despite her efforts, it seems that a black, viscous substance is travelling up inside Niwen's arm and rapidly manifest inside his organs, filling up his lungs with a liquid that drowns the monk. With clerical aid, the curse seems broken though as the substance spills out of his body before being able to devour his life.
Continuing on, the party found a small alcove which hold a pool of warm water. A hot spring seems to have formed here and Misa, Gerrith and Brokker plunge in the water to rejuvenate themselves. Luckly Starspark and Niwen are quick enough to notice the crystals that dotted the recess are liquifying and rush towards their comrades. They pull them out just in time to avoid the crystal substance lashing out from the surface of the water with ragged teeth and spikes forming towards their direction. It seems that the substance is confined within the boundaries of the warm water.
The party is preparing themselves to confront the cult in the innermost chamber of their sanctum.
Misa Mu
Cleric 1
9
11
11
13
14
11
Gerrith Garrick
Comments