Session 16: Into the Forest I Go

Monday, April 12th, 6pm-

General Summary

Now heroes of The Second Siege on Bram's Folly, the party packs up and makes their way back to the estate via teleportation sigil, and spends about a week of downtime at what has become their main base.

The Results of Bram's Folly

Prior to leaving Bram's Folly, the party is briefly celebrated, as they do not wish to linger. However, arrangements do get made to post a pair of guardian statues in their honor, most notably of Slab's, outside the gate facing Phax, giving the Kingdom the middle finger. Additionally, Slab made sure to get together with his militia, taking stock of all they had done and accomplished. Sadly, of the fourteen of them, two perished in the siege, with one of them exceeding expectations so dramatically that the half orc-dwarf, Kanon Fo'dour was promoted to lieutenant. As the party members are all meeting back together to prepare the teleportation sigil, they overhear that the goblin Vex had maimed has also been dubbed a war hero, and is now being referred to as Bruleck the Stonefist, and the survivors are in talks about getting him the best prosthetic they can collectively afford for his maimed left arm.

Downtime at the Estate

By the time the party is ready to return, Duul has added more to his bag of tricks, and the team teleports back to the estate. In just the week that they spend there, the party falls back into their usual routines at the estate, Cyrus found work as the Estate nurse, making quite the name for himself for doing so, even acquiring an admirer that requests to work under him, though he discourages them from doing so. Slab was offered a position at the estate working as a military tactics professor. During Lavug's lessons, however, one of his students ended up in the infirmary under the halfling's care, though things all and all turned out fine, with his protégé beginning to pick up lessons far better. For the previous month's work and this week, he made 88GP in pay and 400GP in grants. Duul goes on the hunt for a Bag of Holding, though he finds that the prices are marked up for the region. Deciding that it is too rich for his blood, he abandoned the notion of buying one from The TOM at this time.

To Lose My Mind

Before long, however, their time is cut shut by a letter from their former party member, Eldin, who contacts them out of concern for the tribal nation of [Wod], which has fallen under attack. The survivors that have spoken on the issues make mention of abominations, leading him to contact the party directly to see what they could do to help. With little else specifically calling their attention, the party packs up in their bear-drawn carriage and make their way to the last remaining magical forests, which make up the topography of the last vestiges of the elven nations. Making their way to the capital city, [Varnelondë], they are met and greeted by Eldin. He briefs them as best as he can, thanking them for coming to their aid, though he is solemn.

^{Varnelondë - capital of the tribal nation of Wod} The party begins to debate on whether they should investigate the areas that have already been hit or try to reach the city that is most likely the next target, since Eldin has them assured that the survivors are suffering too much from the trauma to be offer them any information. Before they set out, Duul makes another attempt at trying to find a Bag of Holding, but once more finds one only from The TOM, who has his regional prices set to 300GP, accepting Duul's haggling, however poorly executed, at 200GP. While plans are made to decide what is going on, a portion of the party (Duul, Slab, Emyr, and Chompsky) sets out on a temporary venture to seek out Black Truffles, a seemingly joking notion that quickly turns serious and potentially deadly. With the help of Slab's Sentinel Shield, [Duul/Slab/Emyr/Chompsky get a bunch of truffles and fight Shambling mounds?]
[Lavug investigates reports about the destroyed settlements.]
[Cyrus tends to the wounded and finds a man that it's infected with some sort of post-Calamity mass and has to amputate it. He handles the man's amputation and brings the discarded limb to Lavug for study.]
Vex: Traumatic Vendetta With everyone else going off to do their own thing, Vex sought out the survivors, taking survey of their symptoms and injuries. Separated from the rest of the group, she noticed the medic tending to
Back from truffle collecting, Emyr goes to check on the rest of the survivors, finding eight of them, aside from the amputee. Detecting nothing from his own afflictions, he steps away to allow the medical professionals space with their patients. Duul makes his way over then, pulling a mask on and attempting to discreetly examine the patients. At this point in time, he finds nothing of note on them aside from faint magical auras. [Session 16 Recording]

Duul & Emyr: And Find My Soul

Through Emyr's unnatural senses, he notices a distinctly calamitous presence further into the field, as though some form were leading the charge from the back. Passing this information on to the nearby Duul, and the pair take Chompsky to charge the mysterious target directly. As they approach, Emyr begins to sense more and more as the monsters continue to pour out black ooze into their victims, but getting closer drags the presence's attention directly to him. Duul, meanwhile, dons his mask and begins to analyze the man as best he can, though the aura he detects tangling the figure they approach is sickening. From what he's able to see, the figure has some sort of symbiotic influence on the abominations in the area. The aura shows him to be under the influence as the same power that consumed Emyr, though it's grip on this man is stronger, making it difficult to look at him directly for an extended period of time. [Combat, Avrae channel] With his ass handed to him in less than two rounds, the Champion pulls a shining key from his pockets, opening a rift. Two more of the abominations slip through to confront the pair, and the Champion takes it through, closing it immediately behind him. As he disappears, Emyr is able to notice a bag that his arrows struck free from his person, discarded and forgotten on the ground where the Champion had previously stood. Duul tries to rush to the rift before it can close but is blocked by the abominations in his path. In his frustration at the Champion leaving, Duul pummels the two creatures before they can even register where they've ended up, murdering them and leaving them as little more than bloody pulps.

Rewards Granted

Duul:
-200GP
+Bag of Holding (15lbs)
+32lbs of truffles

Lavug:
+488GP

Character(s) interacted with

Kanon Fodour (orc-dwarf Lt. in Slab's militia)
Bruleck the Stonefist (maimed goblin that insulted & fought Vex previously)

Report Date

12 Apr 2021