#mournimar

Bodies. So many corpses. And among them, the party of five stand. Tired. Weary. Hurt. Covered in blood, gunk and lake shit. Stren’s gook sticking to the soles of their footwear as they ponder on where to carry on to from here.

A decision is raised. While half the party ;Belli, Jun and Mournimar go to the nearest town to get help with the bodies, Luctan opts to join Malak on the daunting task to bury the fallen. As long as it’ll take.

From Bavorum, the elite guard make smoke signals, signing that they are drawing near to the scene as the less armored trio, followed by the trusty Morgan go off, carrying Kit to the town of  Askrivium.

Kit, who had been one of those luckily spared by the death curse. Kit, was slowly coming to, in her own cheeky way. Much to the amusement of Jun, who watches the half-orc bard bicker at the “sleeping” changeling rogue.

And while their group head for Askrivium, the two changeling having a little back and forth, the armored duo of Luck and Malak get to work. Steadily, taking shifts, on agreement, to do this deed.

2 hours pass. A large shadow comes over the horizon. That of the Darksbane Army, finally arriving at the scene, led by Laila Duststone. Joined by Terrowin the Half-Orc and Kraag the Orc Barbarian. Full force and mobilized, they approach the scene and one after the other, Terrowin and Laila talk with Luck and Malak.

Mournfully, Luctan retells the story of what happened, first to Terrowin, then to Laila. Each of whom at the very least are glad that the party is in full form, having lost no one among them. Laila encourages Luck to not blame himself over what had transpired, even as he does so.

Laila explains that the people, who touched the crystal orb will be gathering within a week to discuss what’s happening. Savron included. So it’s serious. Laila had come into contact with the crystal and born witness to what would happen.

Luctan wants to join them, if possible. But Laila declines, as they had done enough. She hands him a note with a certain number. A collective 25,000 Gold for the party, should they travel east next, before their work up north.

Still, the two holy fighters carry on with what they decided upon the end of the battle.

Among the bodies, a pondering Luck finds a familiar face. But it’s not who he was expecting. It’s one of the younger priests in the temple of Sa Doma. A tiny little Halfling woman.

The boys bond over sadness and emotions. Luck’s always here if Malak wants to talk.

Malak will remember this.

Luck tries to heal Malak. Nothing happens, but it’s the thought that counts.

Fastforwarding to Ascrovium!...

The squishy half of the party, and honorary member Kit, enter the grounds and... It’s a small town, definitely more of a stopping point for travelers than anything else. What’s shocking about the town, however, is the amount of people that are currently gathered.

The town is remarkably packed. These are families of people, who walked off in the middle of the night. Partners, etc .Everyone seems particularly tense, no one is sure where everyone is. 

It is at this moment that Belli decides to bring out her Thaumaturgy stone and get everyone’s attention...

Without mincing words, she tells everyone what happened. How their loved ones were gathered at the lake. How tragiclaly most of them met their end there, if, but for 34 among them. A small light of hope in the constricting darkness.

Most of the crowd is in shock. Some just start running. 10-15 minutes later, the town is cleared from the exess folk, everyone that could afford to make a run, heading there immediatelly.

“This broughtcast was brought to you by Peppery Pete.”

Jun commends Belli for her way of handling the encounter. Belli thanks her, attributing her skill to it either being her maturing or adding another layer of trauma to herself.

... yeah....

They check for a possible morgue and find a thin Half-Orc girl, who guards the graveyard with a pike, for her aunt, who had gone to find her father. Possibly among the people, who met their end.

The party quickly assess that the graveyard is too small for the capacity of bodies.  10% of the bodies seen at lake Stren could probably fit in and that’s probably without counting the ones, already occupying the dirt.

Their group end up heading for the nearest tavern, discussing Ficus’ relationship status as Jun finds him handsome, but Belli protects her brother, claiming he is “spoken for”. Which brings Jun to ponder on Ficus’ thoughts on relationships of a kind.

As they take to a tavern, get cleaned and find their rest in their own respective way, the armored boys are still at it. 1 AM. They are still working. Aided by the army, but are still going about it and watching out, just in case someone tries to nick something from the bodies. Which almost happens. But Malak’s stern fatherly disapproval brings Kraag to return the watch.

Morning comes. One half of the party wake up and have breakfast. The other has been working all evening, through the waking hours and have exhausted themselves physically. But by gum, so much work had been done.

As Jun gets the diggers food in a basket, Belli checks with her brother, updating him on Kit.

Ficus had been running all night, after what Belli had told him previously, making his way to lake Stren. Which. Is probably a long way, given that he probably started off at a different location.

“Welp. I’m sure that won’t come back to haunt me!” - Belli says, before burrying her face in Orion’s fur. (gross cat noises commence).

The party reconnects at the lake, where Luctan and Malak finally get to eat, while catching up their party on what had occured, while they were gone.

Once done eating, they gather their things and travel by carriage eastward. Luck gives Malak permission to take the holy axe from the bag of holding and Malak attunes to it on the travel. While the boys have themselves a good long rest after what they had been through.

(Also Belli is Stress Knitting. Headcanon time: The reason why the party’s clothes tend to look mostly fine after battle, is because Belli fixes the cuts).

Over the next couple of days, the party bond over battle strategies and counters to what they had just witnessed and Malak learns about a bit more about the battle axe he now has in his possession. The axe, a union of Radience and Hellishness carries celestial runes, speaking of holy vengeance.

On the 3rd day of our travel, the group take a different road, ‘cause for some of them this has been a familiar road already. Along the path, they notice stables. 2 men posted outside the door. But it’s just some stables.

Suspicious, the group stops as night approaches.

And, while Mournimar speaks with Morgan and Orion, this is how the Cultbusters would meet Henry and Ronald, a cute couple, doing some sort of business (speaking in heavy New York accents)

Henry, the beefier of the two and Ronald, an orange haired man with freckled cheeks.

The two sides come together and agree on casting Zone of Truth on each other, as a means to learn about one another, so less suspicion could be had.

They are here to guard the room and it’s contents. They won’t say what the room they guard holds within it, but they  won’t hurt the adventurers, if they don’t mess with the room.

The truth is being said. And Belli creatively speaks what she has to say. “You’re a tricksy little bitch and I like you!” one of the men admits, under the effects of the spell and Belli just has a laugh. She wants no drama.

Also, like it has to be said, but Henry finds Malak a pretty man. (We all do, but come on).

Once everyone gets coasy with one another, the party and the couple of Henry and Ronald join together for a happy dinner together.

The food is nice. The mood is high. Henry and Ronald seem to be delightful. Complimentary as heck about Belli’s cooking. The lads are the poifect gentlemen, basically.

Once the dinner is done, the party find places to spend their longrests in, but before the actual long rest occurs, Luck pulls Belli aside and suggests she send a bug-shifted Orion into the couple’s room. Just to be sure they were on the up and up.

Something felt off this night and he wasn’t sure what.

That was the gameplan!

And as the night progresses...

Luctan goes into his dreams again. Like multiple times before.

And... things happen. Sad things. And he sleeps.

In the meanwhile, Jun also has a dream of her own. Whether it’s anything like Luck’s is it’s own story.

In the middle of the night, something happens. 6 hours in, as the party have had their full rest, the flutter of wings awake Henry and Ronald, the latter of whom silently calls over Belli to witness what they were seeing.

.What Belli joins in on watching...

Is 5 imps.

Carrying Luck away. Each holding a limb, the 5th his head.

And Luck is sleeping.

Belli gets Mournimar’s attention and the digitigraded tiefling  bolts through the door, upon hearing that. Screaming his loudest “WTF?!”

Which wakes everyone up.

Belli wastes no time. And casts Sleep on one of the imps, causing it to let go of one of Luck’s arms as it drops on the ground.

ROLL FOR INITIATIVE!

All the commotion that follow  brings a red flash behind the board.

Just behind said board, a red creature with curled horns and 4 chains being wrapped behind it appears, hovering behind the imps. Glaring at the group.

Belli casts Polymorph on Luck. But Luck, sleeping, unfortunatelly counters it.

Annoyed, Belli chants a Vicious Mockery on one of the imps, while Chain Devil takes a stance.

Moves in close and attacks most of the party with his chains.

One chain smacks Jun and she gets restrained, grappled. Unable to move form her spot as the sickle at the end of the Devil’s chain stabs into her.

Another chain grapples Malak and a third misses Mournimar, which luckily takes the tension off of Belli as the 4th chain goes for the archer, stabbing hinto him like with the other two.

Jun uses all her acrobatic skill to free herself and do so easily from the chains. All her time as a dominatrix pays off as that is an easy feat for her. She immediatelly Hexes their attacker and moves in, ready to attack with her Gambler’s Blade.

And Luck’s still asleep.

Sadly, Mournimar isn’t as flexible as Jun and can’t find freedom from the chains. So instead, shouts at the Fiend in Infernal. He DEMANDS to know where they are trying to take Luctan.

This distraction gives Malak the chance to attack the imps, without having to move. Malak casts Toll The Dead on the imps on the right. While one is more stable, the other’s head outright explodes.

Because... “For Whom The Bell Tolls, Time Marches on.”

And before you ask, YES! THIS IS A DBZ REFERENCE!

Luck’s leg is free as Malak brings out his Spiritual Weapon. And smashes it into the nearest imp he can see, the sleeping one, messing him up visibly.

As the remaining 3 Imps try to escape with Luctan, Belli runs around from the other entrance of the barn and casts Dispell Magic on Luctan, putting all her Arcane skill into it.

And Luck wakes. glaring at his captors.

Your friends don’t care about you, they only like what you can offer them.” She gives an imp Anxiety. How much anxiety? Well, it straight up dies. So that’s the amount!

The Chain Devil attacks Jun again. Misses. Then grabs her and pierces her body with his thick hook again, causing bodily harm to the changeling. As she, Malak and Mournimar take continual damage from the chains wrapped around them, Mournimar’s pain response kicks in and he casts Hellish Rebuke at the Fiend.

Much to his shagrin, however, that doesn’t work out. As the devil is not even tickled from this effort.

It’s form starts to shift. It’s face taking a resemblence to Harker, Mournimar’s father, as he had last seen him. Face mangled. Burned. Aching.

The stress seems to be too much... but Mournimar steels his mind to the mental attack of the Devil. He will not be fooled by the mental projection of this Fiend!

Jun escapes. Again. Takes her rapier and dramatically cuts her thigh open. 

After last night she got brave. Bringing forth an electric stabbing upon the Devil with the power of her Blood Rites.

Luctan Teleports behind the devil, swings twice, misses. But then strikes a gash at the back of the creature.

And Luck heals Jun some. In Infernal, he tells the Devil to leave.

Mournimar struggles to free himself and Malak acknowledges that, casting Freedom of Movement on Mournimar. And then attacks the Devil with the Spiritual weapon, clobbering onto him.

The imps try to attack Luck from behind. But neither manages quite to get purching on the fighter/sorcerer’s armor, pathetically gnawing at the material. But nothing much else.

Belli attempts to dispell one of the chains, the one holding Malak. And succeeds, after which she mocks again. “You’re a cowardly little cunt. You will die alone and no one will love you.” sending waves of psychic damage to the fiend.

Frustrated, he looks between the two tieflings.  It looks between Mournimar and Luck and finally speaks, determined: “ He’s coming home. Now!”

As Malak gets freed, Jun gets snatched up again and soon Luctan catches the bane of the chains on his body.

Unlike Luck, however, all the pain causes Jun to go limp and unconscious in the grasp of the metal, much to Luctan’s shock.

The Devil shifts his face again, glaring at Malak. Taking the form of one of his late comrades.

But Malak is used to this sort of thing by now. He’s seen far worse in his nightmares. So he keeps his mind strong and defended.

As the two get carried away, Luck notices life in Jun’s unconscious frame, giving him strength to free himself from the chains, one of which goes limp. Then Luctan wakes her up again, wishing some vitality into her form, while Mournimar brings out his arrows and Marks the devil for the Hunt.

Fires, misses twice, but that’s quite ok.

Malak attacks, but misses by a few inches as his powerful Guiding Bolt blasts elsewhere.

He still has an attack, however, splatting one of the remaining imps.

Scared and alone, the singular awake imp turns invisible. And the party knows not where it’d go. (DAMN YOU, COTTON EYE JOE!)

Which is bad, because it stings Jun. Who almost drops again.

Ah. But in this moment you forget about the bard.

NO ONE DARE FORGET ABOUT THE BARD!!!

With Jun’s consent, Belli transforms Jun...

Then she mocks the Devil. “Luck’s our friend. If you’re that lonely just drill a hole in the wall.” But the Devil takes it in stride.

“He’s not my friend. I serve him. He just doesn’t know what’s best for him right now.”  Luck gets smacked around. Hard! And this chained hellman starts to chant in a mix of Infernal and Arcane.

As the Devil tries to teleport away with the grappled Luctan, a thick shadow comes from his left. And before he can react, the Chain Devil gets chomped on by a monochromatic Spinosaurus Seonipticus.

As Belli draws closer, Jun gets the HDYWTDT with her Jawsy-Wawsies. And she tears him to shreds.

Very easily she shreds this Devil and gently plucks the chains off of Luck’s body. And puts him down on the ground. The duality of Jun. She will tear you asunder, but she will also bleed on you and be nice.

As for the last of the awoken imps... Jun distractedly swings her tail and the Imp just gets punted into Hell. All that is left is a splatter on the wall, before Belli turns Jun back to her general fine self.

As Luctan and Jun catch their bearings,Malak and Mournimar join the bard over the body of the sleeping, if fucked up, imp. Deciding on a gameplan on questioning him, Belli stabs it through the foot.

Which. Um. Unfortunately kills it?!

Moments pass. Henry and Ronald still inside, the group convenes around Luck to get a better idea of what just happened. Jun asks the disguised tiefling if he’s ok, keeping an eye on him as she asks. He is. Feels oddly free. And he heals Jun once again as he confirms.

When asked to explain what this was all about, how the Devil knew him, where it was planning on taking him, a tired and less reluctant Luck encourages them to think of what he’s already said about himself.

“I’m not from Seon. I ran away from home after freeing my mother’s slaves. A Chain Devil and Imps tried to take me “home”.”

Belli and Malak begin putting two and two together real fast. They would know that the things the party just saw and dealt with were and are devils, not demons. Devils serve Potencia. Demons serve Quorrin.

With a tired smile, Luctan admits it.

“I guess, I’m the son of Potencia.” and he says this, his gaze never faltering from Malak’s face.

He proceeds to give them the briefest description of his recent interaction with her, in his dreams. Meeting her in her office. In a form he hadn’t often seen her in. Her disappointment in him for not allout killing the Traveling Gentlemen. Having expected “better” of him.

Wanting him to become an Arch Devil to one of the hells, who’s leader was missing. His refusal. And then, her doing something, before he woke up, being carried away.

And he looked at Malak, the whole time, having taken off his ring during the talk.

Whatever Malak was thinking, he was keeping inside and away from any insight that could be made on him.

Jun acts very flustered at first, when Luck spills the beans as he does. She had seemingly been in contact with someone and mentions “The Evenchord Boy”, something that subtly catches Luck’s attention...

As Luck takes a moment to catch his breath again from what happened, he takes a seat on the ground. Mournimar and Belli, surprisingly, were encouraging of him. Rather than judginess from Mournimar, given said Ranger’s history with the cult of Potencia and Luctan’s heavy connection... He had expected an earful. At the fucking least. But that hadn’t happened.

Luck could all but laugh. Pitifully laugh and ponder. More surprisingly, Jun would kneel beside him, arm over his shoulders and offers him an ear to listen to his troubles if he needs it. Somehow she understands. However that works, she understands and makes it a point to tell him some important words:

“Your roots don’t make you. You make you.”

Then he receives a kiss on the forehead from the changeling woman as he slowly realizes that he may have human relatives somewhere...

After a night of devilry and a slight argument with the duo of Henry and Ronald, the party finally get their second long rest. It would become revealed that Henry and Ronald were actually clerics, possibly of Dyunificus, who were protecting a bunch of kids and silver foxes and were keeping them secret from the party (understandably so) as Adventurers came in many moral colors.

Belli would pay them to ease their tensions, too tired and frustrated from the combat to argue with the men.

Some time passes again as the party carries on on the road. Luctan often looking to Malak, but giving him space.

Eventually they’d draw near to Crystalgate.

And take shifts in a campsight of their making.

1st Luctan, 2nd Jun, 3rd Malak, 4th Mournimar. All this to help Belli have a full rest to prepare meals in the morning.

Sure enough, the night is peaceful and when Belli gets her turn, she makes a perception check... She sweeps the area and-

She feels pretty alright, as she cooks. “These times are easy to appreciate the world. All six of us are safe.”

SIX?!

Wait. Something’s wrong. She looks and at the fire is an half-elf man with strong black curly hair. Deep brown eyes in the campfire light. Dark skin? He’s relaxed and casually pokes at the fire with a stick.

“Hi?!”

“Oh, Morning.”

“Oh, you can wake the rest of your friends, if you’d like. I believe we have some catching up to do.”

“Who are you?”

“My name is Akar’niel.”

Belli wakes the rest of the party and, well.  He introduces himself to the group.

For the most part, it seems that he knows the names, though he’s not quite as familiar with Jun and Malak, nor does he seem to be aware of Luck’s true name.

He knows what the party have been doing and have been up against. He represents a higher power.

Before he disappears in purple smoke, he whispers something.

Luctan would look at his journal and read the mantra that he had sewn into the pages: 

“ When the Western Fields lie sundered, blackened with ash.

When Lake Stren turns red with the blood of your allies

When brother turns against brother in the North

When the Giants of the East flee from demons bigger than they

When the Council lie with their throats slit

That is when I will come for you. And it will be the End."

And as the episode ends, the party levels up.

As they sit and sift through notes on The 9 Hells and The Abyss, on Devils and Demons, they begin narrowing down the list to five individuals in particular.

On the Demons’ side, it’s entities known as “Xertha” and “G’Drazzar”.

On the Devils’ side, the number is 3: Jorzoth, Ellemuth and Potencia herself, the Queen of Cruelty, Empress of Lawful Evil. The Goddess of Imprisonment. Head honcho of the 9 Hells.

Pretty quickly the idea of Jorzoth’s involvement gets thrown at the side, as Jorzoth was one of two Arch Devils, who approached Mournimar. As Mournimar confided with his tiefling team mate, their goal was to overthrow Potentia, hence why they were amassing an army.

So the list narrows: 2 for 2.  Ellemuth, Potencia, Xertha or G’Drazzlar.

Ellemuth, besides Potencia, has the most cruel reputation in the 9 hells. While Xonthar is known as the head torturer,t she herself gets the most kick out of it.

Jorzoth, known as the Silver Tongued, usually makes contracts between the two. His name says it all. Not Ellemuth’s style to make pacts, but it’s generally encouraged to have as many Warlocks as possible. Like a Warlock Quota. Gotta meet it.

Potencia’s reputation goes without the need to express it, really. She’s the boss and you don’t get to be the boss without having done a battleship’s load of things in the realm of pain and woe.

Xertha was and is a renowned warrior, amongst the demons. One, who often takes part in conflicts between the 9 Hells and The Abyss...

While G’Drazzar... G’Drazzar was... something else entirely. Known by the title “The Conquerer”, he was  sealed away during the big war between Devils & Demons and not heard from since.

So he falls to be one of the most likely candidates.

In the meanwhile, Malak decides to study certain spells, given his vague findings.

While Amelia takes to admiring some books on cats, Belli does her own research of interest.

Belli finds out lore about the orphanage. The orphan master abandoned his flock 2 years prior and left it in the hands of his sister. Wild speculations over why he left, but nobody knows the truth. Out of personal interest she finds an article regarding her personal story: “Narahs ditch concert, unavailable to comment.” 

It was the concert right at the time they got petrified.

A year after the head of the orphanage left is when shit started going off. Cedric’s connection with Cherry, way-way back then.

She also finds a weird connection about how the dungeons expand to the silver side. Expansion going to the tabbernax as well. There’s been plenty of tunneling going on.

With research on the complete side, the party meet at the entrance of the library and discuss their findings, sharing what they could have found and what it could mean. From there, they go on seperate routes.

Mournimar and Belli head off to meet Belli’s family.

Luck follows Malak to the temple of Keemis.

And Amelia? She goes to a certain tavern, a few times now visited by the party, to meet with Sabrina. There, the two discuss the events since they last saw each other. Only they are privy to that knowledge...

As the night comes, the 5 and their animal companions return to the Shadowspire Mannor and make preparations to go to bed.

Perception checks are made late into the evening and  Mournimar hears noise from downstairs, With his long and sensitive ears, he catches the sound of the creeking open of a door.

There are a couple of foot step sets and he turns to Luctan, who was in the process of taking his armor off, when Mournimar notifies him of his findings.

This sets the tieflings into motion as Mournimar casts Pass Without A Trace and leads Luctan along. The fighter knocks on his fellows’ doors and leaves them messages in Prestidigitation that there are intruders on the lower floor, as they start going down.

Going downstairs, the two look and recognize the Dancing Lights Spell. A few sort of blobs of energy floating around,. A figure is rooting through and casting a ritual in the living room, hard to perceive where exactly it is.

But from Mournimar’s perspective, that is less of an issue as he is able to tell that there’s 2 in the kitchen and 1 in the living room.

Mournimar sneaks up on the ritual caster, while Belli goes invisible, before going down the stairs.

Malak, in a onesie, heads downstairs slowly as possible, hand out ready.

Mournimar can tell that they are trying to find something as they are casting “Locate Object”.

As they begin their exit from the kitchen, Luctan sneaks up on and grabs the one guy nearest to him. AND SLAMS HIM ON THE TABLE!

From there, he rests a knee on his gut and threatens the other by pointing a blade at his fellow’s throat. He gives one warning and one warning only: “Don’t move.”

As the other is taken aback and moves backwards, Luctan makes the split second decision to attack him. And casts “Heavenly Punishment”, his own take on the Sacred Flame spell. Injuring him with the holy flames.

With the Bane spell taking effect from Luctan’s Charismatic Persona onto the one, who he had just attacked, the other possibly too startled to react properly to the effect, a fight commences.

In 1 quick turn, damage is dealt accordingly, with the party taking the seeming advantage in it all. These figures, attempting to hide in the darkness are quickly illuminated by Luctan’s Light Spell. Mournimar masterfully arms and fires his bow, dealing expert damage. Belli keeps her distance and focuses a spell, turning the Flamed and Baned one into a Naked Molerat (Rolemat, as we ended up lovingly nicknaming him). Amelia breaks the spell rather quickly, however as she steps on the squishy individual, causing him to bump his head under the table he tried to escape. Malak Inflicts his Vibes on one of the visible masked individuals and all seems to be in the right.

Until the twist properly happens.

It turns out that these intruders aren’t simple sell swords and burglers.

As the one under Luck’s knee shoots up and bares his fangs, biting onto Luck’s throat and impaling him in the side with his blade.

The realization dawns on everyone in the room as the invaders are of a vampiric nature. Pretty quick things turn around on the party as they have to take a more defensive position. Still dealing damage, but also having to keep their attackers at bay from further causing of damage.

As Luck gets pounced on from behind, Mournimar brings out a bat and attempts to strike back and relieve the pressure of the Luck Sandwich, which helps to an extent as only the grappled, bald, Vampire manages to deal more than just his blade damage.

From the side, Belli utters words of healing and alongside the half-elf bard Nelatha, they give inspiration to Luck to help him in his trial of combat and leeching.

Amelia strikes true as best she can and Malak prepares to use his Death Cleric abilities....

When “it”happens.

The forgotten one. The third vampire strikes from the back of the corridor.

Firing two poison arrows, he brings down Nel to a state of unconsciousness. And catches the ire of ONE. VERY. PISSED OFF! AIR GENASI! As Amelia makes a run for her lover’s attacker.

The battle enters it’s most intense stage as the party have to pull every trick from their class books. Amelia punches and kicks and hits as best she can. Luctan stabs and slices and smashes into the two undead leeches, helped by Mournimar, who heals him with a potion for any damage that he himself can’t reduce with his Second Wind, while also switching from nailbat to sword. Any attempts by these bloodsuckers to nickle and dime the party down are reduced to null as their cohesion keeps them from failing and falling.

Belli buffers the party, untouched and able to pick and choose where to lend her healing voice, helping Nel back to her feet. An opportunity she takes carefully to Dimension Door herself out of sight of everyone involved.

Seeing the two pires so close to the armored “human”, Malak applies one of his specialities and enduces a Holy Fear onto them in the form of a spectral Rattlesnake.

Fearful, the two in the kitchen attempt to flee as far back as they can from the MENACING form. Giving an opportunity to the Tieflings to use their reactions to strike them as they try and flee. Mournimar sticking it to the long haired one, while Luctan stabs the bald one back down on the table.

The struggle in the hallway continues as Amelia gets a few good licks in here and there in a couple of rounds... until she herself gets stabbed by the poisoner’s blades. Two slashes, balmed in poison damn near drop the Air Genasi and if not for her own resilience and strength of spirit, combined with Belli’s watchful and vocal assistance, she would have dropped to unconsciousness herself.

As the boys fight their best fight inside, Malak getting badly slashed and stabbed at, but missed by the fangs of the long haired one. And Luctan having to rely on the magic, favored to him by whatever holy Entity had passed them onto him to aim properly, Mournimar joins Amelia in the hallway and helps in distracting the poisoner, taking damage onto himself, aliviating the stress from his friend.

In response to the pain, Mournimar does what comes natural to tieflings and unleashes a Hellish Rebuke, his strikes and body glowing in Infernal Flames, which set back the vampire.

He still considers himself able to take them on. Just a few more hits and they’ll be down, is what he thinks. Confident and ready to attack again until-

A crossbow bolt strikes him from the stairs. To the surprise of everyone, Nelatha makes her return into the fight and distracts the poisoner, who had burgled her home.

And on cue Amelia gets to have her payback.

Left. Right. Left and right. Blow after blow, she smacks the cornered bloodsucker one good like a machinegun onto meat. No mercy is offered to the fanged one, his mask getting punched and smashed and bent up in the process.

The tide goes in, the tied goes out, it’s an easily explainable process. What suredness the three had that they could take the Cultbusters and Nelatha is beaten out of them as Malak joins the party outside, while Luck goes on a slashfest in the kitchen.

Favor for a favor as he had been bitten inside the kitchen, he stretches his hand’s fingers into a stabbing motion and plants them into the throat of the ganged up on leech in the hallway. He drinks him to a near dry state, gaining some vitality, stolen from him by the longhaired one inside. All the while Belli sets the bald one’s mind at a turmoil with a Vicious Mockery.

The crescendo of it all is reached as Luctan reaches a peak anger, unleashing a flurry of stabs onto the bald one, ending his existence. Events carry into motion as he takes to the long haired one and decapitates him after he attempts to escape, at a severe disadvantage.

The last one follows a similar fate as the Furious Fiendblood steps into the hallway, both Eastender and Westwounder in hands. Surrounded and cornered, with no way to escape, the poisoner watches as Luck crosses the blades at the sides of his neck and in one smooth motion removes his head like a pair of scissors onto a toy.

His fury, still flowing, he needs be talked down and comforted by Belli and Mournimar, until he can compose himself. Calmed down, he is thanked and hugged by Amelia, Mournimar and Belli, while Malak drags one of the bodies up stairs, much to the protests and confusion of Mournimar and Belli.

During the comforting process, Luck’s eyes don’t fall away from Nel and as the atmosphere drops from the combat onto the conversation, Luctan demands answers on what the hell was actually going on here.

First the wizard in the woods, now vampire spawn assassins and thieves in the mannor. Nelatha had knowledge that had to be shared with the rest.

She agrees to let them in on the truth as the party find a note, describing Norah, Nel’s mother, as a target. Easy to understand why they would attack Nel as she had similar features to her.

The findings that cause Belli to call Ficus over are the bands on the necks of the present ones. Same as the ones on the wizard, with some differences on some of them. Same as the ones on Ficus.

As Malak goes to ask the deadman some questions, Luck goes to welcome Ficus at the entrance. And Mournimar follows.

Following the shenanigans from last session, our heroes get together with Nelatha in the tavern, where the melee fighters with the pointy weapons get quizzed on what they got themselves into. What with the blood all over them.

Luck explains what happened. Sort of. Barfight and all. But due to a misunderstanding, with Mournimar forgetting that Amelia and Nel are behind him, he comes off as though he’s drunk (because Luck rolls SO BAD!!!)

With everyone together, we talk more business and learn that Belli will be meeting an influential figure in the local cáfe, a very snobby establishment and it would bequeef her to bring alogn another person. While Mournimar suggests Amelia, Nel makes an observation that Luck would be an easier choice.

Luck agrees after a bit of cnversation and gets some wet wipes, for his troubles, from Belli.

As everyone, but Luck go to bed, Luck understands clearly the implications of Nel and Ames going together for the evening. But before he hits the hay, he borrows some books from the library, getting into some enthusiastic learning and edumacating.

Amelia gets a good night. Joke’s on us, they just fucking cuddled.

Th following morning... Mournimar asks Belli to not get in any trouble without him. “What’s the worst we could do?” – Belli, 27th February, 2019

Everyone gets together in the tavern, after Mournimar and a rolling Belli go in from a cuddle pile with Samson and Morgan, who stuck to the carriage.

Nel helps Belli with some prestidigitation and after some more shenanigans, the trio go to the Fancy Cafe. Very high society. 

There’s a dish that looks like meatballs, but white and is very heavily seasoned. Dancing lights going about.  - Towards the back of the room, there’s an elf woman and a guard, who Nel introduces as Morticia.

There is a discussion of the Narah family, who apparently “went into temporary retirement”?!

The gig that Belli is to work on is the Winter Solstice celebration at Morticia’s mansion. “It’s important this time of year to celebrate our accomplishments.” And as such, they are invited to perform at the festival.

But as we register, we must put a name for our party.

After some whispers and references to future events (see below),Belli and Luck come to a consensus: “ You can call us “The Cultbusters”. (And we’ll probably NEVER fight another cult again.)

After agreeing on pricing, the rest of the party get invited to come to the cafe. Sadly, the stay doesn’t last, because Mournimar helps the party learn that the locals eat the unborn babies of Bullywugs from the swamp. Bullywugs being sentient creatures.

Luck and Mournimar freak out about the eating of frogpeople babies and each leave pretty quickly after this, with Belli swearing she’ll write a bad review for the establishment. 

The boys literally have to be talked down by Nel to not cause havoc in the restaurant, out of their pure outrage at this cruelty and Belli throws a chair.

They agree to make their leave, but beofre doing so, The Chaos Siblings (Belli and Mournimar) and Luck go to Peppery Pete’s to restock on supplies.

After making him bamf in and out several times by ringing the bell of his shop, they make their purchase. They get potions of healing of various levels (One greater and 6 lesser)

Luck also gets the Wizard’s Folly potion from Pete.

We also learn that  Belli apparently mixed potions at one point.

We also learn about a Potion of Dwarf’s tongue.

Before they make their leave, Luck... learns something that makes him go serious. He asks about the Traveling Gentlemen again and their member, who had recently left. It was the elf, Felaern, who was currently in Victrum (the town, where Gorruck operates from) and will remain there for the next few weeks.

Luck goes grim. And freaks, repeating the names that only Mournimar had heard by this point, as he leaves the establishment. 

As they walk, they go to the carriage, where everyone else has reconvened.  Mournimar asks Nel about Victrum, which, she tells him, will take  9 days of travel. They agree to travel to Victrum directly after they finish the festivities in Morticia’s mansion.

The trip is short and Samson waits with the horses and Morgan, while the rest go in, wearing their “best faces”. Luck somehow smiles through this.

______________________________________________________

AND SO WE SWITCH TO A PREVIOUS SESSION!

One Dungeon Mastered by our Half-Orc Bard player, @langsty-mc-langstface​

This is really cool, ok?!

Our heroes enter the building, fashionably late. Belli had come in quite earlier than the others on that day, so she could prepare with the other performers. But the rest are coming fashionably late. Repearting myself.

The place is fancy-shmancy and everyone invited, but the party is wearing bright pink suits and dresses.  There’s glitter and wreathes and stuff and  Mournimar is dressed all “Mean girls” style.

How to describe Luck?  Luck is generic. Except not. He found a Winter Solstice sweater and dear horns. YOU HAPPY MOM?!

Burk’s painted his armor red. So he’s red and green.

Amelia’s wearing a sweater and pants.

That said, Nel is possibly the most expectedly dressed of the bunch. A fashionable dress.

Guards collect everyne’s weapons, but Luck’s, due to prejudices...Nel manages to sneak in a weapon, a dagger of sorts.

The four get lead around by Nelatha after this display of racism and make their way to the buffet. There’s a lot of food and from this point the party can see Elves, dressed like wizards, upon the podium, who do funny shit to keep people from overeating.

There’s a massive fire place, where people are gathered around. Commonly, the people here are mostly humans and elves, but there are the outliers...

The party find an angry Belli, performing on stage. Angry, because she has to wear pink for the celebration. 

As Mournimar and Nelatha go for drinks, Luck examins their surroundings and notices that the help is mostly made out of  humans, halflings and a goliath. This catches his interest and approaches the man, who introduces himself as Richard.

Richard the Golath.

Luck gets a couple of wine glasses from Richard, who he notices had recently smoken weed. While he’s taking well to the alcohol, Mournimar is sloshed 2 glasses of Brandy in. RIP.

Amelia and Nelatha notice a very tall Elf Woman with long black hair coiled up in a angry bun. Black dress and the biggest sapphire neckless around her. Morticia enters the scene and Luck inquires about her, while Nel and Morticia have a verbal spar of words. Trying to overpower each other on the scene.

Nelatha ultimatelly outsasses Morticia in defense of Burk, Amelia and Mournimar and causes her to make her leave.  None of the party, but Luck notices an almost cool wind blowing off of her that sends almost a shiver down his spine. Apparently, according to Richard, Mortitia comes from old money. Hers is the family responsible for construction of half the city.

There is suspicion from the party’s human as he watches her make her leave. There’s something odd about her, but he can’t put his finger on it. Either way, he parts ways with Richard, after getting another glass and gives him a gold coin for his trouble.

Mournimar quickly sobers up, while Nel gets a drink of her own from Richard. Shenanigans ensue as Burk tries to toss some meats over to Belli, only for it to be zapped away by an invisible barrier. This goes for a while. Burk does not succeed. But damn it if he didn’t try!

However, whomever set up this barrier didn’t count for Burk’s stubborness as he eventually succeeds to push through some bacon for the Half-orc Bard lady.

Having failed to repeat Burk’s success, Mournimar slinks into a corner, feeling self-conscious over his identity.... until a little tiefling boy approaches him. 

The boy smiles a toothy, shy smile at Mournimar, referring to him as pretty. His parents are performing on stage. 

Mournimar gets a note from the child. He gives the boy 3 gold for each member of the family. The two hug it out, before going their seperate ways...He takes note of a small gaggle of children running around the room, unsupervised. Some of the rich, some of the lower classes and staff.

Burk and Amelia go to check the hotsprings outside and Ames gets a disturbing view of an orgy taking place, while Burk makes snowballs with rocks inside.

Nel makes idle conversation with the creme of the crop on the continent. A title for each person in the immediate area of the conversation. While conversing, a uniformed guard pulls Nel aside and takes her and Luck to an upper floor library, where she simply whispers to Nel that they need to be careful, they can’t ask questions. They don’t know what’s listening.

She can answer questions about Mortitia, but this can’t be traced back to her. “Not everything’s as it seems. There’s always a cover, there’s always a lie.” she whispers and runs off.

With that, the red haired half-elf then makes her leave.  Nel turns to Luck. They agree everything is whack and should gather everyone.

Meanwhile...  All of Burk’s snowballs melt and a very cross looking wizard is looking down at Burk from an upper floor and talks down to him. Which, in turn, earns the wizard a response of a melted snowball to the face.

The duo are made to go inside. There, the party reconvenes and Nel notices Amelia’ traumatized expression.

Much to everyone’s shock, Luck doesn’t recognize the most famous bard in this plane of existence, Fantasy Beyonce. All the while, Burk feels a strange chill in the air for a second time.

Their attention is brought to a scurrying noise and they follow it with their eyes to the kitchen. The lights go off, then on again and everyone, but the five heroes of this story, are frozen solid.

They try to help them in some way, but unfortunately that doesn’t work out. A man gets shattered, even!

Even Belli is frozen, much to Mournimar’s horror.  Burk gets some frozen hair and Nel is almost blinded. WITH MAGIC! Because everything around them is basically enchanted in some way???

A few people aren’t frozen. The tiefling wife and Richard. Some of the dignitaries. None of the wizards are frozen.  The orgy is frozen. One guy is not. He’s in the center. He’s stuck.

Mournimar finds footprints. Almost like frozen into the ground, leading towards the rest of the house. Lying on the floor near the door there’s a familiar sapphire necklace (Mortitia’s).

Nel checks for the barrier. It’s not there, while Nel puts out the fireplace so people don’t get melted..

Mournimr notices the little tiefling boy is also frozen. As are almost all of the children. Mournimar has gone protective big brother mode. “Footprints, this way!”Luck follows. All the while.  Amelia and Burk go to the kitchen. The food and the staff are frozen. What draws their attention is that one of the windows is broken, glass is everywhere inside the room.

Burk investigates that some of the glass is broken like it has been walked on. That leads to the toilet’s door.  Which he kicks down.

Mournimar and Luck follow the footsteps and reach the door with the necklace.

Mournimar sees that the room is very cold, but the door seems colder and ice is forming around the hinges and door handle. Everything metal is being covered in a small sheen of ice. This ice seems to be covering the ground With things developing as is, they decide to restock on their weapons, so they can be able to defend themselves. This definitely is the work of a mysterious being of ice and the like.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, everyone, who isn’t our heroes right now, is frozen. Some seated, Some in mid expulsion. There is a vent, but it doesn’t seem damaged, so no one came through there, if they were responsible for these shenanigans.

All the mirrors have been punched with violent contact. There is dark red blood over the crack of the window near the window.  Burk uses a step stool and investigates the bloody mirror. He then notices chalk in the sink. Almost rubbed out lines in the mirror. Burk touches the chalk and realizes the chalk isn’t on this side of the mirror.

Upon trying to touch the door, Mournimar is repulsed backwards from an unknown impact. Luck has better.... well.... Luck with it as he opens the container of the others’ weapons, being greeted by solid block of frost.  Through the ice he can see into the ballroom. It’s like it’s carrying on like nothing happened.

Mournimar uses thaumaturgy. It’s not effective. It’s almost like this isn’t ice at all. The two theorise that this could be special glass. Was this-Was this all a trap? Did this half-elven woman bring them here to get revenge on Belli in some way?! She was, after all, aware of the Narahs in some fashion?! (AND WHAT ABOUT SAMSON AND THE BOIS?!)

As MarMar leans closer, it looks like a mirror. On the other side, it looks like we’re the frozen ones.

Amelia and Nelatha see them run past and bond over things as Luck shouts that they’re in the mirror universe. Nel notices that the shards of the shattered man are vibrating faster and faster. Nelatha casts message to Burk and mentions to Burk that the others are onto something.

But... ah... Everything around Burk seems to shift. He can’t tell what exactly’s going on, but something’s not right. He notices a foul smell from one of the stalls.

Upon kicking the door open, he sees the man, who was previously frozen in mid poop, doing his business. But Burk isn’t noticed by said man, who is now very much not paralyzed in cold. In fact, Burk almost appears spectral and transparent???  It’s almost like Burk isn’t there, even.

He looks out of the bathroom and finds himself in a Summer Solstice celebration, with fruits and vegetables as the course of feast, but no meats involved. A musicion gets on stage and begins to play country music.

Back with the anxious duo, Luck and Mournimar are in a hallway. At the end of the hallway there’s a door, surrounded by lights and  Mournimar notices that the door was recently forced with a dagger.

Luck Picks up the Necklace and the two go inside the room. It’s dark. It’s a study, but most of the furniture has been moved. There’s a single round mirror with a golden frame. On the mirror there are runes drawn in chalk.

In Infernal it says “As one door opens, another one closes.” Mournimar senses that this mirror is some sort of gateway. The duo are so preoccupied wiith the size of the room and it’s dark decor that they don’t notice when Nel and Amelia first come in.

Once they see them in, Luck asks where Burk is, but gets no answer on the subject. Nel is focused on the mirror.

She can feel massive amount of magic from the mirror. This kind of magic is all about teleportation, but someone’s messed with this in a way that no one should have tampered with it. Most of the magic seems to be coming from behind the curtain. As she shares her findings with the others, Luck dashes back outside to go and find Burk.

As if on que, a hand of glass shoots out of the mirror and drags Nel through it. It shatters once Nel passes through. Freaking out,  Mournimar and Amelia go to find Luck and Burk.

Nel finds herself in a room. She’s safe. But she’s in a room. A child’s room, as she is surrounded by toys and a dollhouse, sprawn around it. There is a little girl in a massive bed, Black haired and with elven features, it isn’t hard for the blonde elven woman to realize she’s seeing a terrified little Mortitia.

- Nelatha lies she’s “Judith” the maid, when asked who she is.  Mortitia says that everyone calls her “Morty” all the time. Her bear is Mr. Boop Boop.  Nela notices a window and fighting outside. There’s a war going on outside.Having a realization, Nel tries to distract the girl from the fighting with talk of music. And they bond over it. According to Morty’s dad, Bards are “hacks”.

Even so, Nel tells the young mistress of the house some stories.

In turn, she learns that  Morty’s mother isn’t around anymore and that her father’s fighting in the war. As they discuss Morty’s mom, an explosion goes off nearby, outside of the building.

Amelia and Mournimar run after Luck. But… the doors slam open and identical hands reach for them.

Amelia finds herself in a cloak room. And she’s not alone, as there is an injured soldier of Orcish descent, who is clearly hiding from some fighting transpiring outside. He’s a teenager and scared. Not just ‘cause Amelia suddenly popped in out of nowhere, but because of the conflict going outside.

While Amelia treats his wound as best she can, she tries to build a conversation with the young Half-Orc, whom she learns is named Riico. This is the “Great Base” that they were told to defend with their lives and protect the civillians. The voices outside get louder and the handle of the door begins to shake. Amelia tries to buy them some time, while she ties a rope to the door handle. There are many coats in here. With many pockets. But nothing of note inside them.

An explosion occurs outside and then the person shouts. And people start running away.

Mournimar falls into a dressing room full of outfits. Upon a quick inspection, this looks to be the dressing room with the design of a tiefling in mind. He notices that there are flowers everywhere. All folded from various colored paper. Mournimar follows the flowers and enters a bedroom. There’s a tiefling with a rose in his mouth in the bed.

They try to figure out who each other are. And what’s what.  The man is skeptical and there is a wand he is reaching for, but Mournimar tries to defuse the situation as he elaborates what exatly happened to him and his friends.

He and the taller tiefling begin to piece things together... And quickly realize who the other person in this dialogue is. Mournimar recognizes the man as the boy that he met in the ballroom not too long ago, when everything was normal.

MEANWHILE!

Luck enters the main hall, the door slams behind him. He forces the door open and is met with a mirror, showing him a dark version of the ballroom. With no person in sight. 

Resigning to his fate, Luck takes a few steps back.... and then dives headfirst into the mirror, finding himself in what appears to be a war room. There are heavy black curtains on the windows. Chains barricarding the door. He can smell dust, which clogs his nose.

He investigates the window. It’s been smashed in and on the glass there is old dried blood. Outside there is nothing. It’s a wasteland. There are skeletons and corpses of various decomposition strewn everywhere

He checks the hallway. It’s pretty much the same as before, only no doors. Walking past, there are only three mirrors. One leading to one at the far end, one towards the double doors.  Luck enters cautiously, asking if someone’s inside... And feels a presense nearby.

Back to Burk, he finds himself in the middle of a harvest festival. Everyone’s happy. As he looks around, he recognizes some people. Most importantly, he recognizes an older looking Goblin with familiar armor. He looks similar to Burk, but something’s off.

The older Goblin is focused on Bacon... And Burk tries to get said Bacon, but only startles the elder, wearing Burk’s armor. Our Barbarian notices that the man is very mucb blind.  He doesn’t say a thing to himself. “They have an understanding.” as Hayden puts it. Upon closer inspection, though... He realizes that isn’t his voice. But that is Burk’s armor.

Who the fuck are you?!” in stereo. “Is this a meme?”  asks the not Burk Goblin. The man elaborates on the armor... This armor is 7 generations down from his great-great-great-*zzz*-great-great-great-grandfather Burk.

As they talk, Goblin kids run past and kick Burk in the shin. 

The “descendant” wants to know who Burk is. Burk simply wants to know how Burk died. But the descendant has no damn clue. Burk begins to wonder if they’re even related. The guy could very well just have looted Burk’s grave or something.

Burk finds an older Nelatha and asks her about Amelia. Nelatha is confused, at first, but then remembers what happened. Burk concludes that she’s useless.

Back with Amelia, the noise outside goes to a quiet tone and Riico visibly relaxes.  Amelia questions him about what’s going on, what that noise was.  Riico has apparently abandoned his duty, something which clearly angers Amelia for some reason.

They check outside. Outside there are storage boxes and tents, people hiding. Outside there are civilians fleeing from the main hall. People are setting up a barricade at the main entrance. Some of them are soldiers, some civilians. Amelia sees a figure in a dark cloak outside.

He smashes his hand through the window, leaving blood on the shards. And then an army charges through. Civilians begin running for their lives.

She pushes through a sea of people. Riico isn’t in the closet, neither are most of the coats, but his is there. He abandoned his coat and took a civilian one. Amelia runs towards a familiar double door. Thrown open.

Mortitia is there, ushering folks through the mirror and her necklace is glowing as she’s helping people. She is distraught, looking like she’s about to break. Amelia decides to help, directing people in the direction of the mirror.

She notes that, wherever they are going, it appears peaceful and meadow filled.

BACK TO NEL! An explosion occurs outside the bedroom. She tells Morty to keep away from the window. Outside, Nel sees a single man waving a wand and doing horrible things. An elf man with dark hair. She puts 2 and 2 together that this is Morty’s father.

Morty’s looking up at Nel, she’s not seeing her dad, but is aware. Nel puts Morty back to bed. “Daddy got sick when mommy died.”She heard from servants. He did shady stuff and it made him different. It’s said that if he kills enough, Morty’s mom would return. 

If you try and break the cycle of life and death, it could turn out dangerous, even for you.” – Nel states to a much understanding little elven girl.

She leads Nel out into the hallway and moves quietly, afraid to be heard. There are double doors at the end of the hallway, which the bard can recognize from earlier. Er. In the future.  Inside, there is no curtain. Instead a cage. Inside the cage, there’s a chained elf woman. Her form is flickering, almost as if she can’t stay in this plane of existence and she seems to be in agony.

Nel covers Morty’s ears and whistles a brief tune on the screaming lady and puts her to sleep. It is a woman with a large bloody wound on her chest. They converse some more on what to do. Runes glow and light is pouring into her. Before their eyes, the woman is restored, wound closes, like it was never there.

Morty reveals that she has seen this before. Nel asks if she’d like for her father to stop this.  Morty believes that no one can stop him. He’s not her daddy anymore. She points at her necklace. She has a job to do and only she can do it. She learned from her future self about it.

Nel understands, if vaguely, what this means. She will have to go back to the future, but before she does, she gives Morty some make up tips to keep for herself in the future. 

Morty knows what she must do. The war’s been going on since before she was born. Nel gives Morty the talk of power and responsibility and in turn,  Morty helps Nel with the mirror, while Nel gives her a pep talk.

As Nel boops Morty’s nose, she gets teleported... 

We cut back to Mournimar, who is being escorted by the taller tiefling down the stairs. And they’re in the same place of the party, except it’s been converted into a studio with recording equipment and instruments everywhere. It’s a bardic paradise.

Apparently the tiefling had a crush on Mournimar back in the day. There’s someone who he needs to talk to. There’s an old woman in a wheel chair. Dark hair down. She’s softly playing a lute. It’s Mortitia.

It takes them a moment, but they discuss what happened.

Mournimar spills the beans. “Ah, the old hand! Some day I’ll figure out what the fuck it’s doing.” Mortitia states. She stands up and uses a stick to hobble to MarMar. Checks his face and yes. She definitely remembers the drunky boy.

Usually the hand takes people, who (and she has a real hard time remembering) are capable of operating the mirror. That must mean the party can also use this. And she gestures to her necklace. It’s been handed down the line daughter to daughter. And they’ve made doors through time to prevent disasters.

He needs to go through the summer solstice mirror, then through the winter one. And she puts the necklace around Mournimar and she gives him instructions. He needs to go through the bathroom first. And to be careful. She lost her temper earlier and punched the mirrors.

As she says that, the tiefling he recognized is very annoyed and blushes brightly as he brings Nel into the room. She just arrived.  She’s seen plenty worse.

Team bathroom mirror is a go!

Judith, btw from your childhood.” The girls catch up quickly, before our heroes make their leave. And Burk has had an interesting conversation with future folk. Then he hears a crash from the bathroom. He investigates and reunites with Nel and Mournimar, who had crashed down on top of each other through the mirror. For a second Nel thinks she’s got black hair now, but it’s actually MarMar on top of her.

Nelatha goes to talk with her future self. She’s wearing a familiar sapphire necklace. Nelatha got something nice in Mortitia’s will. Future Nelatha gives past Nelatha the Necklace and directs her to the closet. Before they go, Nel gets a very important message from herself:

Whatever she does, never accept a makeover from Belli.

Back with Amelia, she is helping civillians through, until Mortitia collapses. She’s exhausted as fuck. Almost completely drained of life, basically. The necklace calls for Ames to put it on.

Burk, Mournimar and Nelatha fall through the portal in a tiny closet, stacked up. Nel at the bottom, Burk in the middle, Mournimar at the top. Nel’s dress is basically ruined by this point.

They see people running past them, screaming. No one is even noticing the trio, they’re just b-lining it.  Burk splits off again. And checks what’s up in the back.  He sees the fire behind the people. Seeing as he can’t punch that, runs the opposite way.

The trio get to Amelia, who is now wearing the necklace as well. Just as the door begins to freeze behind them. Burk sees a tiny little dragon breathing ice, breathing on the door and wagging it’s tail.

As Burk makes friends with the little one, Amelia and Nelatha hug it out as they reunite, finally.

BACK WITH LUCK! As Luck is standing in the room, it’s almost as if Ash is appearing on the walls and floor.  He notices the ash seems to be the thickest in the center of the room.  Luck nat 20’s his perception check. There are foot prints buried in the center of the room. As he’s looking there, the room starts getting cold. 

The lights go out and once they go out, all the people, who were frozen in the party are unfrozen. Luck waves awkwardly at the people. Aaand gets glomp-tackled by a panicking Belli. They quickly catch up and come to a realization on what had actually happened.

Back with the others, Mournimar is slowly getting more anxious as they haven’t found their human buddy.  Mortitia starts to wake up and she sees her dragon is taken by a goblin. She refers to the little one as Boop Boop”the dragon. Nel has a 1,000 yard stare.

Morty is almost annoyed at the situation and ties her hair in a bun (MUCH TO THE ENTIRE GROUP’S PAINED CHAGRIN).

They try to follow her through a mirror, but it breaks. The dragon chirps as they plan and the dragon points in a direction with it’s tail that takes the form of a hand.

The party gets to the main room, where the floor has been burnt into a mirror. Dragon’s pointing at the floor. They jump through, holding hands and pulling Burk along. And promply land on their other two companions.

The dragon came through, as well and the party begin discussing what the hell just happened to all of them.

There is a reunion hug in there, somewhere as the girls notice a very annoyed Mortitia. Nel uses”Morty”. Mortitia shudders. Apparently this is all “Boop Boop”’s fault. 

Mortitia tries to call Boop Boop to her, but the little dragon is adamant to do so. Wanting to travel with Burk for a while. She sighs and asks for the necklaces back, telling the party that they’ll forget what happened once they hand them back. It’s important, but some refuse as they’d seen a future where they hold onto the necklace.

Luck and Mournimar hand their versions of the necklace to Mortitia.  Mortitia is honest with them about what’s what and her opinion of the party has shifted. As things go back to normal, the once Low Wisdom Duo forget what happened, beyond their intitial experiences in the mansion, before things got weird.

The lot of them make peace with the mansion’s owner and Burk gets to keep Boop Boop, whom he renames “Rimefang”. Rimefang seems chill with this new name. The lot of them get 1,500 gold together for the job and their troubles.

Belli gives everyone a present and takes a “Still Image” of sorts with her friends. Inside, everyone finds a friendship bracelet. Mournimar has a t-shirt with “Best Big Brother” on it.

________________________________________________________________

Once they make their leave, the party feel accomplished.

One could say that everyone has... leveled up, in a way.

Level 5! Level 5! Level 5! Level 5! Level 5! 

Nel states that the lot will be able to meet heri n the capitol next. She’ll be veyr busy, apparently. 

(Out of character, we learn that  If the opportunity presents itself, Burk will jump in front of Belli to take a blow. He hates himself more than he hates the party).

Amelia’s gonna pull Nel aside and the two have a moment. Which Mournimar and Belli are absolutely extatic for. While Luck’s demeanor shifts slowly as he remembers what’s coming next on their journey...

Nel’s red in the face, once the two come back from wherever they came back.  For the first time, the party see her visibly flustered. She goes invisible and heads off to the capitol.

The party commences their travels, with Luck taking a seat beside Samson, who has been coachmanning the shit out of the carriage.

4 days after setting off from Heraeia, they hear shuffling i nthe trees. Mournimar and Luck hear something more. Orcish grumblings and point them out to Belli, since the only Orcish the two bladed boys know are cusses.

Burk understands as well and what they learn is that a small band of orcs are sitting around a fire, bragging about their latest spree of murder and mayhem.

The party is talked into taking out the orcs for their crimes, Luck being the most eager to put a stop to them. With help of Mournimar’s spell “Pass Without a Trace”, the party of now 8 travel through the bushes, with Morgan the Dire Wolf being the top tier standard for stealth.

A fight begins and ends in almost an instant as the party are too strong for the orcs, who are overcome from all sides.

Belli being the MVP, quite frankly, as she had put the leader to sleep, before it even started!

To summarise the far, here are my notes:

- Mournimar Hunter’s marks a guy, then hits him. Hits him hard.

-  Sam does a cool plant whip move.

- Luck finishes off the dude.

- Luck misses the other dude.

- The an arrow bounces off his armor.

- Burk rushes in and crits the guy that shot at Luck, with the Axe.

- And almost kills him brutally.

- Amelia smashes another guy’s face in.

- Amelia gets the second kill of the session, after Luck.

- Then goes to punch another guy, but he just barely dodges.

- Rimefang ice cones a dude.

- Morgan takes a nibble off the sleeping dude.

- Belli claims another penis.

- Mournimar does a sord combo.

- Samson smashes the man’s ribs in.

- While Mournimar pats Morgan, Luck gets his dagger back.

- Belli finds 20 gold and 2 emeralds.

- Hell yeah!

- It’s dusk time.

- Luck finds 10 gold on the sword and shield and 5 on the guy across him.

- Belli gets 5 gold.

We have us a bit of a singing out of character on the subject of these country Orcs.

“Country Orcs, take me “ACK!”

The party camp further away from the orc band as they don’t want to atttract attention, in case there’s more of them. Though they could probably take them down.

Rustling comes from the bushes. Amelia and Samson hear it first.  An brunette half elven woman with a bow appears. She introduces herself as “Noria” and offers her services as a guide on the road. Having had bad experiences with random beautiful elven women appearing before them,  Belli uses Zone of Truth on the ranger.

“I just wanted to offer some advice to the people in the area. You have a wolf, I noticed.” She is clearly impressed by Morgan. And she tells the party that there is a tavern down the road, where they could spend the night, should they continue further. And a good cave, if they are so inclined to explore that as well.

Burk asks her if she’s a cannibal or knows a cannibal. Nah. Luck's just cleaning the blood off his swords and armor, while the ranger helps the party in gettign the war horses, Kevin and Killer, to move faster with the help of some infernal.

Mournimar goes to Kevin and Killer and will do Animal Speak with them.

(I wrote down that there is a Hannibal Lecter reference down here??? I think this is when I did my impression of Sir Anthony Hopkins).

Amelia insights Noria. She doesn’t hunt people. She eventually walks off. Luck tries to give her some coin, but she refuses and they part ways. (Smol Luck lore: He was a bit smitten with the lady).

Mournimar earns himself a star for “being emo”. Apparently Belli keeps all kinds of charts. All the while, Amelia pulls Luck on the side, far away from the others.

Softly, she asks: “So, did you notice anything strange about that.” Luck asks her what she saw. Her eyes didn’t move at all. Creepy. Didn’t blink. Second of all, she was watching her. She’s not “solid”. She seemed to fade at some point. The two take a moment to consider what they can do from here on out.

They decide to spend the night here, but in the morning they’ll check with the tavern on Info about Noria. Then come back to the others, right as they hear the mention of a name. Who’s Lazarus.”

Mournimar wants to discuss some things with the group. In the morning.

In the morning, they discuss turns on taking reigns on the carriage, so they can move faster. Mournimar is looking forward to seeing his old flame, Gorruk, again.

Luck gets to know Samson a bit. He’s been with the Bretheren for 4 years. To learn about his Craft. He’s very enthusiastic about their Message. Luck learns about a lot of different types of plants along the way, but he’s not very enthusiastic about it, given his current predicament.

Along the way, Burk and Mournimar teach their quadropadal companions some commands to varying success.

Reaching town, Amelia and Luck do a lore quest, while the others do their own thing. They find another Half-elf, an older woman, definite gray sprouting from her roots. Her eyes light up and she approaches them about how Noria was her grandmother and who the town was named after.

The swamp is magical, maybe it was an echo of Noria.

We continue on, after the party learns about the Spectral hero of the land.  At some point during their journey they see a suspicious coin purse in the middle of the road. Belli pokes it with mage hand as they pass. Belli picks it up and opens it. There’s money in there. Belli takes the money. Belli gets 69 copper pieces.

She hands the money to Rimefang as his first little horde. And he grunts happily.

...

Eventually they make it to Victrum.  And Luck makes a b-line for the Silver Hammer’s Inn, alongside Mournimar. With the rest of the party, except for Samson and the horses, and maybe Morgan??? Yes, definitely Morgan stays there with the others, at the carriage. The rest of the party joins the anxious boys.

A very smitten Mournimar catches Gorruk up on what’s been going on. They certainly have gained a repotation by this point.

Following a 21 perception (I had power outage for a couple of minutes sgaghasgh), Luck sees an elven man sitting in a corner. He recognizes him as Felaern.

Taking a couple of cups, Luck walks over to him and bullshits his way into a conversation with the man, making him believe that he is an admirer of The Traveling Gentlemen.

He is able to persuade Felaern to talk to him about his experiences, while also having him drink the Centaur Moonshine. Felaren leans in. And starts slamming drinks. All the while spilling his heart out to the fighter about all the hardships he’s faced lately.

How the Gentlemen became too mainstream and moneygrubby. How they started doing shady shit and weren’t as “heroic” as they were making themselves out to be. Which “SHOCKS”, SHOCKS I say, Luck as he makes it known to Gorruck that his perception of The Traveling Gentlemen was not all it was cracked up to be.

Eventually, as they talk, Felaren tells Luck that he was gonna be replaced by some other wizard. Luck just keeps pouring him drinks. Until Felaern eventually konks out from the Centaur Moonshine. (Nat 1, Baby!)

Luck picks the elven wizard up and starts carrying him outside, promising to Gorruk, in a twisted way, that Felaren won’t get hurt. And that turns out to be true.

As, by the time they reach the marshlands, out of town, by the time they reach a tree, by the time Luck disarms and undresses Felaern, just to be sure he is unarmed, by the time he starts tying him to a tree, he makes a quick realization.

Felaern was dead. Alcohol poisoning having taken him out.

In that moment, Luck freaks out and begins shaking and mumbling to himself, much to the worry of Belli and Mournimar. And then...

The party swear to help Luctan on his quest.  And, as the body burns, the session comes to an end. With this reveal simmering along.