Session 41: Veilmar, Part I
General Summary
Prisoner Transport
13 awakens to the clamoring of Praetorians entering the torturous confines of his imprisonment. They release both him and Zero, freeing them from their bonds. During the process, the Praetorians discuss the possibility of bringing 'the others,' but the commanding Aegis of the group sternly orders them to be left to 'the Lord's Blessing.' Though the Praetorians appear to be in a hurry, 13 and Zero fail to gather any further details before being hooded and knocked unconscious.At the Gates of Hell
Meanwhile, the Departed and Ecrena's Revenants dock at the southern port of Veilmar Castle, encountering surprisingly little resistance from the Holy Praetoria. Upon arrival, the group notes the eerie barrenness of the docks, which seem unnaturally uninhabited. Their suspicions are heightened when they hear a terrified scream and frantic banging on the castle's large iron doors. Cul and Loghain lead the charge, pushing open the heavy, resistant doors with the others close behind. Inside, they are met with a gruesome sight: mangled corpses of Praetorians piled against the door, many disfigured beyond recognition. Loghain and Cul analyze the remains, identifying varied causes of death, including deep claw marks, massive gashes, oversized weapon wounds, and even evidence of caustic substances eating through metal. Splitting up, Ecrena and her Revenants take an alternate route along the castle outskirts to locate the imprisoned, while the Departed delves into the ominous depths of Veilmar Castle.Sinister
Once inside, the Departed are assaulted by a sinister, pervasive force attempting to penetrate their minds. Through stalwart determination, they resist its influence, at least temporarily. Navigating corridors littered with fresh blood and corpses, Paz and Gloinn become acutely aware of ominous sounds: heavy hooves on stone, rattling chains, and the piercing screech of metal grinding against stone. As they venture into an open area, Tempest is drawn to the terrifying presence stalking them. Before he can act, Tempest locks eyes with a disfigured, shadow-infused minotaur of dreadful power, and is paralyzed by more than just fear. The minotaur charges with lethal intent, forcing the group into desperate action. Loghain and Tempest ignite an explosive beartrap/smoke powder combo, but it barely injures the beast. When Paz too succumbs to the abyssal creature’s paralyzing glare, Cul manages a last-ditch effort to banish the minotaur from the material plane temporarily. This grants the Departed a brief reprieve to flee deeper into the nightmarish castle.Abeyance
Fleeing the minotaur's relentless onslaught, the Departed find themselves in the castle's garden storage room. Inside, several bodies lie strewn about, while four medium-sized rocks are scattered throughout the area. After Cul secures the door behind them, a curious Loghain picks up one of the rocks, only for it to begin dissolving in his hands. Gloinn identifies these as gray oozes—gelatinous creatures capable of mimicking solid objects like rocks, bricks, and even walls. With this revelation, the Departed ready for another encounter with the unknown.
Report Date
08 Dec 2024
Primary Location
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