#session recap

[theheartmold]

SESSION ONE: WELCOME TO BAROVIA

This is the re-cap/write-up of our first session in CURSE OF STRAHD: HUNTED, a campaign run by our dungeon-master ONYX and played by a total of six people around the table. In this session the party first arrives in the plane of Barovia and meets each other, before heading toward the nearest village (also Barovia).

As a note, the character known as Luca does not show up in subsequent sessions as the player bowed out of the campaign and we brought in someone else to take their place in session 2.

View the cast HERE.

For now, though, here is the start of the STORY SO FAR. / (MOBILE LINK)

The session opens with everyone centering in on a clearing, in the woods just south of Barovia.

Melchior and Giselle had met earlier in the day; Melchior introduced himself to her as a werewolf hunter, and seeing that Giselle was lost, agreed to take her to the village of Barovia so that she could start to get her bearings. It's late, and they've just set camp. Suddenly, an elf bursts into the clearing--Lune--and only pauses for a moment to tell them to "run" before they move along, faster than anyone the other two have ever seen before.

Before Melchior and Giselle have a chance to decide what to do, there is another interruption. Falling from the sky is Crafine, the kenku, followed quickly by Vayagol, a cleric who lands on top of them. As the group struggles to get their bearings, with Melchior offering healing word to Crafine, they realize that Giselle has already run off after Lune.

Eventually, the party catches up and gathers together underneath a tree. Up in the branches, Lune is helping Luca (bloodhunter) and an injured hunter, Bernor, down from the tree. Luca is covered in blood down the front of his shirt, and Bernor is limping along with his crossbow.

Crafine's sense power ability reveals a mass of undead encroaching upon the group from every direction except to the north, so everyone heads north. The mists, which seem to be chasing them, funnels them over the bridge and into the village of Barovia. Although to outsiders, the edge of the town is dilapidated, with abandoned houses and shuttered windows, those native to the plane state that it is always in such a state. The party takes note of a mansion nearby, welcoming with warm lights in the windows, though Melchior is disinterested in seeking help there.

Luca goes to seek help in the inn (Blood of the Vine), but the locals are frightened by the encroaching mists and so no help comes. Despite Melchior's warnings, Giselle makes a run for the mansion and prompts the party to follow. They find themselves trapped within Durst Manor, as the fog closes in and gives them nowhere else to turn. Melchior and Luca hint that this might be by design, alluding to a mysterious baron, and the party goes inside to investigate what might be going on within the manor.

Just inside, in the foyer, the party encounters two children: Rose & Thorn. The two children inform the party that their parents are gone (but insist that they will return), and that a monster "lives in the basement, but is haunting them through the walls". Despite Melchior's reticence, the party agrees to help them out. They decide to leave the children with Bernor guarding them, armed with a crossbow in the foyer, while everyone else explores the lower level of the house.

A short rest is taken, and then exploration begins. It appears as though life has frozen in place: the kitchen appears to have been freshly used, a mess with food and dishware scattered everywhere, and there is a hot feast out and waiting in the dining room. No one partakes of any food, though there is some theft of the silverware after Melchior reveals that he is a werewolf hunter, and that werewolves are a threat in Barovia. He says that a table setting is unlikely to do much damage to one of the beasts, but thefts occur regardless.

Upon not finding much on the first floor, save a bungled attempt to open a locked cupboard and an aside that Vayagol might not hear from her god here, the party decides to head up into the second floor. Melchior recognizes the people in the painted portrait at the top of the stairs, and correctly identifies the face of Gustav Durst, the former master of the Durst Manor and whose family used to rule Barovia. He recognizes Elizabeth Durst, his wife, who is scowling down at the baby cradled in Gustav's arms. The two children in front of them, who he states seem to be Rose & Thorn Durst, are smiling unawares.

In the library, Lune discovers a secret passageway; within, they find runic books on the shelves (which neither Melchior nor Crafine had the time to try and translate). Also within the passageway was a skeleton, that had clearly been killed by acidic darts, clutching a letter. The letter reads as follows:

My most pathetic servant, I am not a messiah sent to you by the Dark Powers of this land. I have not come to lead you on a path to immortality. However many souls you have bled on your hidden altar, however many visitors you have tortured in your dungeon, know that you are not the ones who brought me to this beautiful land. You are but worms writhing in my earth. You say that you are cursed, your fortunes spent. You abandoned love for madness, took solace in the bosom of another woman, and sired a stillborn son. Cursed by darkness? Of that I have no doubt. Save you from your wretchedness? I think not. I much prefer you as you are. Your dread lord and master, Strahd Von Zarovich

Lune opens up the chest on which the skeleton was propped up, and retrieves several items: three identified scrolls (bless, protection from poison, spiritual weapon) and three more scrolls that have yet to be identified. In the study portion of the library, Melchior reads through the first page of an open journal that was left out near the fireplace, and locates a silver key within the desk emblazoned with the symbol of a windmill; he recognizes this windmill from his travels.

Across the hall in the music room, Luca effortlessly serenades Giselle with enchanting piano music while she dances along. Crafine and Melchior enter the music room to investigate, so Giselle steps outside to talk to Vayagol. While this is happening, Lune travels upstairs to the third level of the manor alone, triggering an attack on the party by animated armors that suddenly spring to life.

In the ensuing combat, much is revealed, such as: Giselle is capable of casting magic, despite her previous claims that she is unable to do much more than to cook or paint. Melchior spies Luca drawing his own blood in combat, and his eyes turning a bright electric blue. Crafine almost falls unconscious, but Vayagol dashes over to him to heal his injuries before he is lost.

the party calls for a long rest.

in the library, Luca reveals to Crafine the truth that he is a dhampir, and that his blood is electrified(?) He alludes to some fonder familiarity between himself and Bernor. the pair of them play cards with the children, teaching Rose & Thorn how to gamble.

in the servants quarters, Melchior is carefully embroidering red thread into a large sheaf of spare black cloth. he tells Vayagol that his mother taught him how to do, and gestures to the red flowers embroidered onto his shirt. he implies that the flowers are of traditional significance, and promises to teach her the art of embroidery at a later time.

in the hallway, Lune speaks to Giselle, who is sticking close to them out of fear from the recent attack and feeling safer with them. Lune learns that Giselle was not lying to the party, but she has only recently come into her powers. Lune ponders over the amulet around their neck before taking their meditative rest.

end long rest.

after the long rest, Crafine and Luca realize that Bernor and the children are missing. Alarmed, the rest of the party is quickly roused, and everyone agrees to ascend to the third level of the house. (Luca and Giselle first investigate the third floor, but Melchior writes them off and convinces everyone else to keep going). The third story is unlike the first two: it is decrepit and aged, walls peeling, cobwebs strung along corners and dusty furniture. Crafine locates a hidden stairwell hidden in the far wall. the party splits at this point.

Melchior, Luca, Crafine, and Vayagol enter the northern room. In this room, they find another dead body--a man, but no one knows whom. They tear this room apart with perception checks: Crafine locates a safe in the nearby wall, and Melchior locates the key locket hidden within the bed. Within the safe is a jewelry box with an expensive looking pendant and three non-magical rings; Luca takes the pendant, and Crafine tricks Melchior into handing over the rings. Vayagol reminds them that they are supposed to be looking for Bernor and the children.

Melchior notices that Crafine is additionally wearing a wedding ring.

In the southern room, Lune and Giselle open the door and are set upon by a specter who does not want to permit them entry into the room. Both of them attempt to calm the spirit enough to enter the room, but fail. They do get the specter to indicate that the missing children are another floor up, on the fourth floor, accessible only by the recently discovered secret passage.

On the fourth floor, the party locates the bedroom of Rose & Thorn Durst. It is discovered that the children they previously met on the first floor were not the real spirits, but an entity mimicking them. Through questioning the children, it is inferred that Strahd likely killed their parents at a dinner banquet, and the children were left to starve alone upstairs.

During this discussion, Melchior becomes visibly distressed and leaves the room; although he occasionally interjects with questions, he is mostly pale and sick-looking for a time.

The dollhouse in their room reveals that passages to the basement are missing that should have been there. The house is sentient, and was hiding the basement access from the party (either to protect us or to protect itself). Crafine wraps up the bones of the children to properly bury them; additionally, he and Giselle both allow themselves to be possessed by Rose & Thorn. Lune takes the dolls of the children at Melchior's behest.

Before they descend to the basement, Crafine and Melchior have an argument at the top of the stairwell. Melchior insists that attempting to fight the creature within the manor is futile, as everything within Barovia is subject to the will of Strahd Von Zarovich: their best attempt would be to flee and chance with the mist. Crafine argues that it is the coward's way out, and that there is no other way but to the basement. Despite his reservations, Melchior makes no attempt to leave the group.

During this argument, Melchior bares his teeth at Crafine, revealing sharp canines; Luca notices this and asks Melchior if he is also a dhampir, something which Melchior affirms. Luca shows off his ability to spider climb on the ceiling.

As they descend, Crafine moves slowly, allowing for some to get a chance to converse. Melchior and Luca discuss dhampirism (with a few interjections from Crafine), in which Melchior agrees that they are strange kindred, but does not reveal what he hungers for (Luca is revealed to be a classic bloodsucker). additionally, it comes out that Crafine is in his 40s, with two children between the ages of 20-23. Luca is revealed to be physically 24, but due to his dhampirism, he is also up into his 40s. Melchior is simply 24, Giselle is 18, and Vayagol is 19. Lune does not offer their age.

Melchior keeps getting tripped by Something as they continue to head down the stairs. Crafine is using his sense powers skill repeatedly, fretting over a consecrated presence that has repeatedly occurred. As it keeps showing up from behind, he begins to shuffle the party members in front of him on the stairs so that he can narrow down from whom it is coming. Surprisingly, the cleric, Vayagol, is not the source of this consecrated energy. It is narrowed down to either Giselle or Lune, before Melchior, now at the front of the group, is violently shoved down the stairs.

As he recovers and gets his bearings, the rest of the party catches up to him. Melchior accuses Luca, who had been behind him, of being the one to push him. Luca denies this and the two bicker until Crafine puts an end to it, saying they need to keep moving.

Melchior indicates the group should go to their right, and lead them to a crypt. Underneath the Durst Manor is the Durst Family Crypt, which Melchior notes with no small amount of alarm seems suspiciously empty. As they head south, they find the four empty tombs of the immediate durst family: Gustav, Elizabeth, Rosevalda, and Thornboldt.

Crafine puts the bones of the children into their respective tombs (and Lune lays their dolls to rest with them), and the spirits pass on. Crafine and Giselle are no longer considered possessed.

As they head further into the crypt, Melchior is attacked by a hidden creature referred to as a grick. Thankfully, it is quickly disposed of, with Lune making the killing blow.

END OF SESSION ONE.

[eric-the-bmo]

Blood and Silicon ep22: Baptism

[Summary: Leo drowns.] @sanguineasylum @kentuckycaverats @zwoelffarben

The coterie makes arrangements; Blake, due to the contact he received from Sticky, acquires the body of a man with some of Leo's features at a pickup-spot, and gives him the Malk's tattoo. We pay off a morgue to identify the eventually-found corpse as Leo.

Dec 28, 2021.

The next night Leo takes a long drive with his rented car to the drowning spot with the radio down low; the corpse is in the trunk. He's not wearing his trenchcoat, and it's a bit odd to not have it on. He parks the car at the planned location and starts to get things set up.

["God, did you ever have to do something like this? Fuck-!" He mutters to himself, readjusting his grip on the corpse as he drags it to the driver's seat.]

He eventually gets the body into the car, and pauses before giving it his cross necklace. He sends the car into the lake, and watches until the water is still. Leo is silent and gives a solemn bow. ["And so ends, once again," He says, "The life of Leo West."]

He steps into the water and begins to go to the meetup spot the coterie agreed upon. Besides Leo accidentally heading the wrong direction for a bit, the rest of the escapade went well- he emerges from the correct spot. ["Hey Kid," Blake offers him a hand on the shore. "How're you doing?" Leo takes it. Water pours out of his mouth.] Blake helps him up, the coterie gives him a fresh set of clothes (including the trenchcoat), the Gangrel offers him a cigarette, and on the way back the two older vampires keep an eye out for Lupines as they walk back to the car to start their drive back to San Jose.

As they drive, Leo gets a text from his sister- it's a selfie of Amy at a bar smiling with a girl he's never seen before ("Look who I got a date with!!! <3"). And, of course, he can't respond now.

Notes:

This was a short session bc I was headed for surgery early the next morning! We spent Way too long discussing how to go about the specifics of faking this death lol

I've been wanting for Leo to do a Dramatic Bow to his death for a long time so it was nice I was able to do that

something something i can have him be a bit of a morbid theatre kid if i want. something something slowly losing his sense of self, idk

Something about being attached enough to the coat to not want it to get it wet

The way the ST and the coterie described what if feels like to be full of water as a corpse was So uncomfortable, ty. Leo's having a bad time.

Waugh i imagine there was such an Odd disconnect while Leo was faking his death i am having a Time

Leo's new shirt is specifically this one btw

Amyyyyyy :-( girl im so sorry you found a nice person to possibly date and u have no idea ur brother just faked his death and can never speak to u again or even ask about ur new date aaaaaugh //falls

Anyway yayy!! Chicago is over (goodbye!), and so it's back to San Jose! ⭐

[undyingmedium]

[[ WARNING: Violent content! I wouldn't it call it gore because it's not that detailed, but if you're disturbed by anything of the sort, ignore this post. ]]

3 out of 3 of the snippets I intended to upload from last session, kind of shortened to make the scene a little more fluid - please forgive some slips of the tongue on my end but live recordings are so much fun! Also shoutout to @witches-and-weirdos again, he's an amazing DM and this campaign causes an earthquake with every session lately.

Context || Anika, under control of the demonic sword Razash, has struck Kairon down, but is also immediately freed of his mental grasp by a divine force. She realizes what she has done and confronts the demon about it, facing the consequences.

Related campaign diary post

Same session snippets:

Kairon revived blooper

"I'll tell you when you're older"

[relleytrots]

𝖃𝕴𝕴𝕴 𝕿𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝕱𝖊𝖚𝖉𝖆𝖑 𝕭𝖔𝖍𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖆

𝔦𝔫𝔱𝔢𝔯𝔪𝔦𝔰𝔰𝔦𝔬𝔫

Our story breathes for a week, due to player availability - we wanted everyone to be present for the pursuit of Octavio, and then there'll be a space for Theodericus to be excused for a while. We knew this was coming, and the character has a built-in exit strategy, but it's still an arse when Real Life Writes The Plot to this extent.

As such, we took the opportunity for some side stories. A little Touchstone time for Marsillius, and an exploration of Mariam's past and How She Learned Protean Anyway. Nothing transformative could possibly occur here, right?

Many people have remarked on the resemblance Marsillius bears to both Octavio the Prophet and Gesa, the Archbishop of St. Vitus' and de facto spiritual leader of Prague's Christian community. He's lived in the monastery of St. Lawrence all his life, and the circumstances of his birth have never been made clear. It was high time he addressed that.

As such, he consulted the monastery's archives, particularly Garinol's journals, in which the first mention of "the boy" was found in 1157 - and then confronted Garinol directly, trying to wheedle the truth out of his sire. Garinol had sworn to Marsillius' mother never to tell the story... but he could tell him about the story, about the particular sins that concerned him, prompted by Marsillius' confession that he was poisoned by the mortal sin of envy.

Enough was revealed that Marsillius visited the convent at St. George's next, to ask if they had given solace to a woman in distress, in say... the autumn of 1157. Most of the sisters did not remember, but there is of course one nun who was sent to them long enough ago that she might remember the gossip from the day...

Alzbeta did remember. When she first joined the convent, there was still hushed talk of Sister Anezka, who had renounced her vows when she was found to be with child, and disappeared - at around the same time that Deacon Gesa was abruptly withdrawn from serving at St. George's, and instead joined St. Vitus', beginning his slow rise to power...

While @gwenynen-bach decided how angry Marsillius was, we flashed back to the past - a couple of years after Mariam's Embrace, after she'd been presented to Prince Rudolf. Her sire Josef was encouraging her to come out of the tunnels and learn about other Cainites. and her elder brood-sibling Othelio had a suggestion.

It did involve them sneaking out of the city through a water-gate, and making their way into the woods to the north; an almost trackless depth in which Mariam was somewhat overwhelmed. When they reached the clearing with its standing stone that sat between three steads, she became very overwhelmed.

The Cainite sitting on the stone was unlike any she'd ever seen, or heard. Immense and wild, hairy and tusked, almost her height and broader still; a kilt, a ragged shirt, and chainmail clearly torn from three different dead men.

This was Erik! Erik McDonoughue, of Clan Gangrel! Nomad, vagabond, wanderer: elder at large, who'd tramped across half of Christendom in his long centuries of unlife. He had a lot of stories to tell, and Mariam was spellbound - she'd never been more than a mile from Prague, she'd met someone who'd from Buda-Pesthe once, and here was - what even is a Scotsman? Where is Orkney, exactly?

In the course of his yarn, she learned of the powers of the Gangrel - sight at night, talons to rend even Cainite flesh, and sleep in the bosom of the earth. Erik offered to teach her the first of these! She would have to hunt, though: to hunt, to kill, and to drain a predator of the woods of its vitae, to bring her Beast closer to that of a wild thing.

This she did. Erik she also did. Not something she would normally consider, but the sheer rush of new experiences sort of... carried her along.

On the walk back into Prague, Othelio confided this was why he'd wanted her to meet Erik. He's different. He's rootless, masterless and solitary; he walks the Road of the Beast; but he's old. He's survived despite cleaving to a path that's far, far removed from the Humanity, Heaven and Kings that reign over civilised Cainite society within the walls.

We return to the present. A decision has been made. Marsillius was furious. As such, he made his way to the Bishop's Manse and, in a series of fine rolls, performed the full Garrett Special (I am old, and therefore I think of Thief and not Assassin's Creed as the locus of stealth-action-historical-fantasy-stuff).

As such, he came to the Archbishop's very boudoir. Sumptuous velvets, leatherbound books, and a gold-plated crucifix facing the bed, that it might be the first thing its owner sees on sitting up each morning. And then, Marsillius did something genuinely malicious.

Aura of Decay.

All that velvet? Ragged and rotten. Those carpets, with which his footfalls had been deadened? Slick with black mould. That crucifix? Rusted to powder in his hand. The Archbishop? Awakened coughing and wheezing, in a sudden cold sweat, and there at the foot of his bed the thing he'd dreaded most: his misbegotten bastard son, come back to remind him of his sin.

Gesa did not quite confess. But he denied nothing, and he named Anezka. That was enough. Marsillius told him the greatest thing of all: that he would outlive his false and recreant father by centuries, that he was the Way, the Truth, the Light -

Gesa knew of what he spoke. The race of Caine. The damned. Neither was a godly soul.

And that, for tonight, was the end of our vampire story.

[floralzombae]

My last session of my game with Yvonne was a bit of a big one. Starting the session with one of the characters getting the other side of all those tales of goblin tribes being slaughtered and then an adventure parties adopt the survivor, trying to be adopted by the source of his trauma.

While struggling to figure out how to deal with this, the other character not knowing the background had a minor breakdown over not being adopted. So overall a great start.

This being followed up with me going to search for the pretty lady I've been spending time with them being missing, and the one clue I find is someone saying if I go after them I'll probably die before going for it, so everything going well.

[friendshipcampaign]

Session Recap 12/28/19 - High Standards

 “I’ll have to talk to the others, but either we can be in touch or you can,” Erwyn replied to Palava – and then had to explain to the others exactly who he was talking to. 

The party decided to send a just a few members out to the elephant statue to meet with Alembic and Palava and guide them back to their hiding place. Voski asked Erwyn how the voices were again, and when he replied that the whispers were worse again, Ditto suggested Voski try giving him the Ring of Mindshielding – which he accepted, though he seemed conflicted about it. 

Voski and Amaranth then went to Nora to try to dispel the enchantment on her tattoo. The first time she cast Dispel Magic it didn’t work again, but the second time there was a visible effect as the magical effect left it.

“Congratulations on your unemployment,” Voski told her.

Next they moved on to the chest containing Amaranth’s things. Voski warned Volfred to move back a bit before she tried anything, but her last Dispel Magic worked, allowing Amaranth to pick the lock using a second set thieves’ tools she’d hidden in her boot. Not only was her stuff inside, but so was a ciphered note, which she promptly brought out to the boys, who said they would take a crack at it later. 

Around that point, Erwyn got another Sending from Palava, and let him know that some of the party would be meeting them later, in disguise. Seeming anxious, Kriv rummaged through his bag and handed Ditto one of his healer’s kits, saying it seemed like she often ended up needing to heal people very often, and asked that the two of them pick up more if they could find any. Voski ducked into the demiplane to grab the harp the group had retrieved and asked if she could borrow the Bag of Holding in order to disguise it, since the case was obviously harp-shaped.

Right as Ditto and Voski were about to head out to meet with the Gatekeepers, Kriv got a Sending from Thodri saying she’d left notes in a copy of Five Centuries of Dwarven Heresy at the bookstore The Light of Truth, and that only he would be able to see the true writing. They then set off, heading to The Pig’s Eye first, as Ditto wanted to warn Frileg that it seemed like things were looking pretty dire for Veritas.

Frileg didn’t recognized them when they came in, so Voski deposited her bag on the counter to let her sort things out. Ditto explained she was in disguise and asked if Nilo and Clarity had swung by – apparently they had, seeming both celebratory and a little distraught, and saying they were planning on getting out of town soon. Ditto asked if Frileg was thinking about doing the same, warning her to maybe consider taking a vacation.

“I’m feeling very worried for anyone I love who’s in this city,” said Ditto, “And for anyone I don’t love, too, but in a less personal way.”

Frileg asked if Ditto was planning on getting out herself, and commented that her saying she might have to face this one head on didn’t sound like the old Ditto. She asked what she thought was coming, and Ditto hesitantly admitted there might be three more breaches, but wasn’t sure, and didn’t elaborate much more. 

Voski was unable to locate the yolchol, but did ask Ditto how much she’d told Frileg on their way out. Ditto admitted she’d probably said more than she should have, and relayed what she’d warned Frileg about.

“That’s a pretty sensational thing you just told to a popular bartender, who knows how many more people she might tell?” said Voski.

Ditto insisted Frileg had more sense than that, and Voski sighed, saying she thought she wasn’t quite understanding what she meant and that the two of them should get on with their errands.

She didn’t leave it there, however.

“I just… you get that it’s a good thing, right? Because it’s a social hub?” Voski said as the two of them shopped for healer’s kits in the market.

Ditto perked up significantly at that, surprised that Voski was approving of what she’d done because she was so used to always saying too much. 

“I forget that not everyone’s experienced as many dramas,” Voski said with a sigh.

The two of them then went to the abandoned warehouse where Voski knew the yolchol was hiding out – though she instructed Ditto to go into the tailor’s shop next door and maybe buy some socks or something. Voski then poked around for a back entrance to the warehouse and knocked on the door. A yellowish mist emerged from a crack, wooshed back inside, and the door opened to reveal the drow demon, who invited her inside. Voski shut the door behind her.

Once she’d returned the harp, Voski asked if this would get the yolchol an audience with Lolth. When she answered in the affirmative, Voski asked if she could pass on the information that something was tampering with “the investment,” as the yolchol had previously referred to Erwyn, hoping Lolth might be able to do something about the situation. The yolchol said she would do what she could.

“I will inform her that this is safe, and that you also have something you wish to secure,” she said.

Voski then went and retrieved Ditto (who had bought a pair of socks for herself and another, despite the challenges of socks for dragonborn feet, assuming Voski would want some too) and the pair went on to the bookstore where they were greeted by an owl-face aarakocra. Voski found the right book – with some papers inside that to her eyes looked to be about the worship of Dumathoin – and Messaged Ditto about distracting the bookseller, who asked them about finding some woodcarving books. Voski then retrieved the notes.

Next the two of them went to Knife’s shop. Knife also didn’t recognize either of them, but Ditto let him know who she was – though she resorted to using Message to talk to him quickly, as he couldn’t control his volume well. She also warned him about the coming danger, but Knife said he wouldn’t leave Veritas. Ditto told him to be careful at least, and to keep an eye out for everyone else in the city before giving him a big hug. Before they left the shop, Voski bought some tiny salami.

Back in the basement where the rest of the party was waiting, Amaranth asked Kriv–who was writing something on a piece of paper–how he was, since she could tell he seemed upset about what had happened with Erwyn. She told him that if he wanted to talk about anything, she was there for him. Kriv said he didn’t really want to talk about it. Nora, meanwhile, tried to strike up some friendlier conversation with Erwyn, but he was more than a little out of it.

“What sort of things do you do?” she asked him.

“Get into trouble, mostly, I think,” he replied, sounding extremely distant.

Eventually, both rogues hit similar awkward silences with the boys, and Nora and Amaranth retreated into the demiplane. Before vanishing, Amaranth looked at Kriv, then at Erwyn, and shrugged. Nora, meanwhile, was also obviously stressed out, saying she didn’t know how to talk to anyone outside of the Unseen, but Amaranth assured her that the party was just going through a lot and showed her how to form things in the demiplane, creating an incredibly wonky-looking statue of Volfred.

Meanwhile, outside the demiplane, Kriv suddenly heard the voice of the shadow demon in his head, saying “No thank you? I thought paladins were supposed to be grateful.”

“I figured you got what you wanted,” he replied in his head.

The shadow demon laughed. It said that the party would have plenty of time to say their goodbyes, adding that it might be another three or four days before the Abyss took hold, if Erwyn was lucky, but that it might go poorly for the rest of the party when it happened. It went on to say that people thought they could stand in the way of the Abyss, but that it was infinite and would always win. Kriv laughed and replied it was just saying things he already knew. Eventually, the demon commented this conversation wasn’t as fun as it had expected, since people normally tried talking back. It told him to be careful the next morning.

Erwyn asked Kriv if he was alright and he admitted the demon had just spoken to him, which prompted Erwyn to ask Kriv if he was hearing voices too. Kriv explained this was different, and that it seemed most of the consequences for what had happened had fallen on Erwyn, not him.

“I’d rather it be that way,” Erwyn said. 

“I’d rather it didn’t. You didn’t really have a choice. I did. Kind of.”

Kriv insisted that what happened was objectively his fault, saying he should have been smarter than to wait outside, but Erwyn disagreed, saying he also could’ve spoken up earlier. Kriv admitted he’d asked the demons for help, which made whatever happened to Erwyn his fault.

“And if you use that as an excuse to be guilty, then I guess that’s my problem, too,” Kriv said.

“I already feel like I’m losing my sanity,” Erwyn said. “I don’t also want to lose my friends.”

Eventually, Kriv asked Erwyn if they were going to survive this. Erwyn said he had no idea, but that it seemed some of them had a better chance than others, as his running total wasn’t looking good, which caused Kriv to grimace. The two of them discussed whether they thought the demons would follow them if they managed to get out of Veritas alive.

Kriv asked Erwyn what he would have done if their positions were reversed. Erwyn said he wouldn’t have asked the demons for help, and that it felt horrible to say it to Kriv, but he didn’t think he’d have taken anything from the demons – but he also felt like it was one thing to say he had those principles and other to put them into practice.

“I expect you to put your morals above our lives,” said Kriv.

“Isn’t it funny that I don’t think that makes me a better person?” Erwyn replied.

Kriv brought up the situation with the Morkoth, where Erwyn had managed to drag them into a fight because of how he prioritized sticking to his principles, even when Kriv was also in the room and in danger. He said that Erwyn really scared him sometimes, and they should have died then. 

Seeming unsettled by the conversation, Erwyn commented “Between Aurelia, who I was familar with a long time ago, and even Calma, it seems that some of the worst people we’ve run into think they’re doing the right thing. I’m just trying.”

Erwyn said he was sorry for how the situation with the Morkoth had affected Kriv, who replied that he wasn’t sure he believed him. He told Erwyn that even when he made choices that seemed entirely moral, he had to make sure he knew who was looking at him, and might be affected by them.

“I think at the very least it helps build more trust, and that can be tough to come by,” Kriv added. 

He then commented that he thought they were all going to have to make a lot of choices in the coming days, but especially the two of them.

“I will take responsibility for the choices I have made,” said Kriv.

“As will I,” said Erwyn. “May we both make the right wrong ones.”

Erwyn added that he wanted Kriv to know he didn’t necessarily feel good about all of his choices, and that from the very first day he’d set out to protect others, he felt he’d only left people hurting behind him. Kriv commented that maybe Erwyn should have been the paladin, as he talked more like one—but that it wasn’t a compliment.

Neither of them seemed particularly comforted by the conversation.

Meanwhile, Ditto and Voski had reached the elephant statue, where they were waiting for the Gatekeepers. Voski casually asked if back at the Raven Queen’s temple, Ditto had been about to try to read someone’s mind before she’d stopped her. She then added she kind of wished she had, because the break-in there was bothering her—more specifically, who might have been behind it.

“I just can’t figure out what happened!” she said. “I made a chart!”

“It was a really good chart,” said Ditto.

“It was,” said Voski.

Voski also asked why Ditto had chosen to brag to Nilo that the bard had once killed someone by insulting them, saying it wasn’t a skill she was usually played up for. Ditto said she’d just never seen anyone do it before, and that Voski was really good at insulting people—though she then clarified that wasn’t meant as an insult itself.

The Hour of Verity struck, and it wasn’t long before the two of them spotted Alembic and Palava heading towards the elephant statue. Palava didn’t recognize them, strolling obliviously past the two of them, but Alembic managed to, getting his attention so the pair could head over. While Ditto and Palava engaged in some not-exactly surreptitious hellos, Voski Messaged Alembic the passphrase “The locked door must be guarded,” to which he sent back “And the unlocked door must be barred.”

Voski introduced herself and Ditto as Lucine and Panana, as the group walked, making it clear they were keeping their identities hidden for a reason. Alembic telepathically messaged her to ask if there was anything else they should know. She Messaged back that things hadn’t gone well for Erwyn in the last fight, and there might be some aftereffects.

When they reached the basement where the rest of the party was, Voski gave Kriv the papers she’d picked up at The Light of Truth. He was able to read them, and they proved to be extensive notes on everything she’d observed that might be useful to the group. The group then did their best to fill Alembic and Palava in on everything they knew. Both were appalled to hear how much had been going on, saying they’d have sent to party with backup if they knew more about the situation in the city.

Alembic eventually turned to Erwyn and asked what Voski had meant about him having some troubles. He froze up trying to explain, and Palava put a hand on his shoulder, telling him to take his time. Eventually Ditto told them about Erwyn dying and being resurrected by the shadow demon, and the side effects he’d been experiencing since. 

As Erwyn explained about the second eye on the cult’s symbol flickering for him, Palava asked if he’d been able to speak Abyssal already. His ears drooping, Erwyn nodded. Palava asked all the languages he knew, and Erwyn replied with the full list. Palava explained it was good he knew Infernal and Celestial, since they would help counteract the Abyssal influence, and that the Gatekeepers had helped people with Abyssal influences in their brain before, and they would help Erwyn, too.

As the group got to talking about the situation at hand, Voski asked if Violetta had looked at all into something that she’d asked about–namely, whether tinctures had been reported in any other cities where there had been planar breaches–which reminded Palava that Hubris had managed to expedite the mail Ditto and Kriv sent back in Veritas, and gave the two of them the letters they’d received back. The group then got to talking about next steps, agreeing their objectives needed to be closing the three partial breaches, trying to find a way to run the Raliv mercantile out of town, and figuring out what was going on with the goddess.

[mythicalmo]

Question???

Crazy idea, no clue if this is even gonna find any traffic, maybe I'm talking to the void.

I think I figured out what I wanna do with my blog??? My friends and I started a D&D campaign in January. I'm a new DM and things are going really well. I brought up possibly posting our session reports online somewhere to see if we get an audience or something from it, y'know? We've talked about making content for awhile, just haven't been able to and maybe this is our avenue to get started.

Idk what I'm trying to say. I guess I just wanna see if these tags work and if people would even be interested in reading our session reports and getting involved in our story??? Should I make a separate account for that??? I'm still new to how Tumblr works and I do read fics, I know that reblogging those and interacting are a big thing but I don't wanna cause clutter in the profile???

This is a mindless rant at this point, I have no idea if anyone is even following what I'm trying to say.

It's the way it took me so long to post this from my drafts wtf-

[loafrolls]

HELLO IM BACK AND MY PARTY IS INTO SOME SHIT

How is Loaf’s CoS Party Doing:

Lost a party member (player issues)

Losing a party member may have slightly involved tearing the fabric of reality (consequences)

Van Richten cut off their cleric’s arm

Ez made them a badass prosthetic replacement

Said Cleric then got real pushy with Ez about werewolf stuff and got fucking punched

Ismark has photo-reflective eyes now! This is normal and nothing to be concerned about

Cleric and Paladin/Warlock asked for a metaphysics lesson from Van Richten then got mad when he suggested that the gods are also natural beings that reside in their own plane of existence

Cleric got REAL pushy about what Van Richten got up to when he got stuck in Ravenloft a few decades back (this happened in this universe I think it’s funny)

VR has zero shame, and proceeded to explain both his, and Strahd’s sexual interests in GREAT detail

Cleric painted a crossbow bolt to shoot Strahd in the dick with

Paladin/Warlock got some backstory out of Ez (uh oh maybe we shouldn’t have told her that she’s gone through very little compared to their Cleric huh)

Cleric discovers there is a ghost

[end-fall]

 Session 35 started with Cael and Lucky heading to the hospital to check on Zevlor. On their way in Cael bumps into an unnaturally cold person leaving and decides to tail him.

 Mithros eventually leads Cynn to the Navarro estate where she overhears Half-Dan and her brother talking as the leave the estate before breaking in and discovering the whole thing was a money laundering front. She finds the necklace, steals all his stuff, plugs and turns onvthe sink, and peaces out.

Meanwhile Elton has letters to read and is told he has to sign off on the official end of the month long mourning period. He procastinates signing by holing himself up in a room and sorting the other letters.

 Cael follows the guy into an alleyway and gets jumped. She realizes this figure's true form is obscured by an illusion, he seems to be wearing stygian iron armor, and seems to be inhuman (probably a devil) with too many teeth and seemingly incapable of bleeding. Cael gets her ribs sawed by his oddly crystalline dark blade (very like Stieg's blade), but manages to steal it and make a break for it with Lucky's help and the session ends.

[theheartmold]

THE STORY SO FAR

The hub for all of the session write-ups of our CURSE OF STRAHD: HUNTED game. Please refer back here regularly as I update each session. Each link will take you to the post in which I recapped the session, not a separate page on my blog.

MAIN SESSIONS

SESSION ONE SESSION TWO SESSION THREE SESSION FOUR SESSION FIVE SESSION SIX

MINI SESSIONS

MELCHIOR DEPARTURE / ISMAEL INTRO

[eric-the-bmo]

Blood and Silicon ep21: What's Blue and Sticky? (I didn't want to name the episode this)

[Summary: The boys finally find a way to fake Leo's death, and Blake collects things. Leo spends time with his sister as Blake and Percy visit a contact.] @zwoelffarben @kentuckycaverats @sanguineasylum

On the way back to the hotel the coterie agrees to ask Harrison what his "last resort" contact is for them, since they've been unable to figure out how to realistically fake Leo's death.

Leo calls Harrison, reassures him that nothing's gone wrong, and asks him for more info on the contact he had given the coterie- how would we know when to call the contact if we don't know what they can do?? Harrison says the contact is an old friend, but he'd rather the coterie not contact them unless they mess up horribly and it's absolutely necessary- surely it's not too difficult to not mess up. Leo reminds the Baron that police are able to figure out a lot of things now, like how to identify a corpse from its teeth. Harrison says to just Dominate the police, or make the death unquestionable; maybe a family member could see it. He'd rather it be imperfect than have the coterie call his mysterious contact.

["Leo, you can do this without help. Surely."] Leo shrinks back from the condescending remark and says he'll figure it out, and ends the call.

He fills the coterie in about the contact, and they reason the contact owes one to Harrison; maybe he wants to save it for something else. The coterie gets back to brainstorming Leo's fake death, and eventually they settle on a plan: Leo will drive a ways out from Chicago towards the Great Lake and leave a note behind (he's driving there himself just in case cameras spot him). He'll make it look as if he drowned, and the other two will pick him up at a separate spot. Leo mentions the police would expect a body to wash up at some point, but agrees to the plan regardless.

The coterie agrees to puil it off two nights later on the 27th, since Leo is spending time with his sister the next night (there's some emotion on Blake's face there, just for a moment). Blake says he's going to get the coterie one more night in Chicago, and that he'll be right back.

He gets some coffee grounds from the hotel lobby and puts them in a baggy, and then also takes the coffee maker; He returns to the room and Leo and Percy watch as he gets some bugs and mold from underneath the floorboards. Leo follows Blake into the bathroom and asks him what the hell he's doing as the Gangrel is gathering rust from the showerhead.

["Making sure you and me got something to eat later." "I- I don't see how this wouid help. "If you've been around as long as I have you pick up a few things along the way"]

Blake puts the materials into a cup of coffee grounds, mixes it with some of his own blood, and put this into the filters of the coffee maker. He starts to brew it, and hey. It smells super bad. Once it's done Blake pours it all into a flask he's got. Percy goes to find a Febreeze.

[Blake raises an eyebrow. "So you spend most of your time running around with blood-crazed lunatics but that sets you off unease?" "Forgive my Ventrue sensibilities."]

dark room, cluttered. grey blue skin, huge black eyes and nails. shocked to see Blake. how ya been, the lasombra have embedded themselves. jackie is mentioned.

blake asks for other favor, provide body to fake death? yeah S knows people. gives number.

Back in car, Percy learns the Lasombra are part of Camarilla

"absolute freedom requires absolute resposibility"

____

The next night, Leo grabs a rental car. He spends the rest of the night with his sister- she tries to ask him about the breakup, and they play Mario Kart at one point- and he succeeds his composure roll in trying not to cry. At one point they take a selfie and Leo specifically makes sure she takes it with her phone. Eventually, Amy gets tired, so he hugs her goodbye and says he loves her. Outside and away from anyone's sight, he breaks down sobbing.

Eventually, he steels himself and starts the walk back to the hotel. ["You've come this far. It's all for him. It's all for him- You can't go back."]

______

After Leo left the hotel to meet with Amy, Blake offered Percy to feed from him since the guy's looking hungry. Percy accepted the offer (he adds to his list of things he owes Blake for), and then was asked if he wanted to tag along with Blake; he has a contact to meet up with. Blake drives with Percy to an adult store in a seedy part of Chicago. Entering, Blake asks the store clerk if he can talk to his boss. ["Tell him his old friend Blake is here."] As Blake waits for the clerk to return from the back room he browses the 1988 playboy magazines. Percy is confused by one of the products on a shelf, and Blake jokingly asks if he's interested in buying it.

[Percy, deadpan: "...Seriously?"]

The store clerk returns and tries to ask Percy a few questions, like if he's interested in buying, if he needs help finding anything- Percy gives him some cash like "take this and stop asking me questions." The clerk accepts and leads Blake to the back office and down into a dark and cluttered basement and then leaves. A Nosferatu with blue-grey skin and large black eyes is shocked to see Blake in Chicago- he's called Sticky, which is probably the worst name ever considering this is under a sex toy shop. They exchange a few words– Stick informs Blake the Lasombra have "embedded themselves" in the city, but it's nothing they can't handle, and someone named Jackie is mentioned– and Blake says he's back in Chicago for business.

He asks for some bulletproof vests and gun silencers. Sticky gets those for him; one of the vests is pink ["Sorry. I got it though! You can just spray paint it."]. Blake bargains the price down to 3,000, saying Stick owes him one, and the Nos relents. Blake also asks if Sticky knows anyone who fake a death/make a fake body. Sticky says of course he does, but hesitates to give Blake a number to call until Blake says it would "make them even." Sticky says to not let the contact know it was him that gave Blake the number. He gives Blake a box to put his newly-acquired things in, and they say their goodbyes.

Blakes leaves the basement and tbh Percy was listening in the whole time with Heightened Senses. They start to leave, the clerk sees the box he's got and thinks he's stealing, but Blake attempts to convince him he paid for it already.

Back in the car, Percy asks about the Lasombra comment and unfortunately learns that clan has defected from the Sabbat and joined the Camarilla. Percy's visibly pissed about this, and Blake comments that's why he doesn't quite want to stick around for too long; There's no telling who's watching in the shadows. Percy goes from fidgeting with his ring to his gun- he reassures Blake he's not going to do anything, as he gave his word to not cause any problems, and Blake implies he's not too sure.

Percy informs Blake of the "absolute freedom requires absolute responsibility" belief that he has, and how not all of the Sabbat agreed with him on it- point is, he keeps his word.

______

Leo arrives back at the hotel room to see Blake and Percy with the vests, but he's like "I'm too distraught to ask about that rn," and goes to wipe the remaining blood off his face. Blake wants Leo to go feeding with him, and grabs that weird concoction he had made earlier. They drive out to some sort of road/field, where Blake takes the mixture and paints symbols into the ground, muttering something. Leo's confused as hell but Blake tells him that now they'll be able to feed from the animals here safely, since this isnt anyone's territory- it's a Weird Road. Leo's still confused tbh, but the two of them hunt and feed anyway.

Notes:

Hi we were overthinking the death/body thing Way too much lmao

The ST said he wouldn't tell us what the contact is after this bc it has "too many spoilers regarding Harrison's lore" 👀

Special shoutout to Percy suggesting Leo mail his suicide note. Bro who does that- /lh

Yayyy we finally have a way to kill Leo!! 🎉

istg i thought Blake was doing thinblood alchemy or something. Dude what the fuck are you doing

Percy in the adult store was hilarious. Love it when this man is in Situations

Blake how do you know this guy. Why does he owe you something. What's up

Sticky did have a fun voice though ⭐

WEIRD ROAAAAADDDDD!!!! :-D

[undyingmedium]

Also, the DM briefly made us take a break from continuous roleplaying between Kairon being half dead and a very shocked Anika for a perception check

Well excUSE YOU, we're having a MOMENT-

[relleytrots]

𝖃𝕴𝕴𝕴 𝕿𝖆𝖑𝖊𝖘 𝖋𝖗𝖔𝖒 𝕱𝖊𝖚𝖉𝖆𝖑 𝕭𝖔𝖍𝖊𝖒𝖎𝖆

𝔄𝔠𝔱 ℑ, 𝔰𝔠𝔢𝔫𝔢 𝔦𝔦

Our story continues with Mariam taking that scroll she... obtained... to Josef, anxious to resolve her uncertainties. Why had this been preserved when the rest of the room was ransacked? Was this why the rabbi Zachary had died? What did it even say?

Josef, fortunately, did well on the ol' Theology roll, and identified the scroll as a broad, superficial summary of rabbinic thought on the mysteries of creation and animation, how exactly one is taken from dust to become life, but all written in the context of some unknown outside text.

Mariam didn't think this was the sort of thing Zachary was interested in, and wondered if the handwriting resembled that of his son Mendel. I... could neither confirm nor deny this, but I wouldn't say it didn't.

In any case, Josef suggested consulting the Cappadocians, Garinol of that set being well known as a correspondent and scholar.

Across town, in the haven of that very scholar, the Cappadocian brood arose to begin their night. Each received their report from the brothers of the day: Garinol on the business of the abbey and his correspondence, Mercurio on the happenings of the court and portents that did pertain, and Marsillius on the affairs of the sickening and dying of the Old and Little Towns.

When I need to make up a person in a hurry, I generally roll on the random resonance/intensity chart and let my brain spin for a while. Showing a double-ought, I came up with an intense Sanguine Dyscracia, and plagiarised improvised a Bavarian mercenary, down on his luck and drinking himself to a happy death now that someone had finally believed his life story and paid him well to hear it. Marsillius gave him the last rites and took his due, and inherited a free Blush of Life until his Hunger next caps out... but also a positively un-Christian level of intoxication.

At this moment, Mariam crossed the bridge, and made the acquaintance of a piss drunk monk who equivocated at length about whether he was allowed to get drunk, what precisely was meant by the Kingdom of Heaven, and his own personal interpretation of Paradise on Earth. And then she carried him up the path to his monastery, because she is good like that.

There followed some brotherly joshing between Marsillius and Mercurio, who was not quite as good humoured after he saw Mariam and Josef and realised who they were. Exit Mercurio, in haste, to deal with the body Marsillius had left behind; you don't get corpses the size of Otto Wegener's every night.

The session concluded somewhat hastily in Garinol's study above the dormitories, where he expressed his dismay at the passing of Zachary - a good man, and a thorough scholar - and exclaimed that the scroll was certainly for him, but he hadn't commissioned it expecting his correspondent to die over the matter. Garinol would very much like to see the body. Mariam would very much like that to not happen.

Next time: the chief rival of Prince Brandl would like a word, and Theodericus still has a packet to deliver. Perhaps there'll be an opportunity at court?

[redlilyadventuringcompany]

First Patrons post!

First Patron post up! Early access to the first campaign report on the blog! Public version up tomorrow.

[triskaideka-13]

...I'd say this is a good summary of how the session went.

(Those Bingo cards are always so much fun, I couldn't possibly pass a chance to make my own.)

Also, one of the guys has already decided to get Sunless Sea "to do some character research".

Sounds promising - and NO - I do not feel guilty, at all.

I just may have a tiny little rodent problem... but I guess that's bound to happen when you invite DnD players to playtest a game of Cthulhu... 😅🎲

[friendshipcampaign]

Session Recap 12/14/19 - Conversations & Consequences

While the party relocated to a second location, concerned they might be compromised, Amaranth remained in the demiplane with Nora, where the two of them had a conversation. Once they arrived, she emerged to get a disguise makeover of her own, asking Voski for advice. Ultimately, they used makeup to color her blue and a bold purple dye with silver streaks for her hair, which Ditto braided, working some beads from Tress’ store in. Voski gave her a spare shirt to use as a wrap, to disguise her clothing. Amaranth told the others they could call her “Truth.”

Once Amaranth was disguised, the party talked about next steps. Amaranth told the others about where the cult had kept her, before handing her off. When she described the location with the reams of paper and running water, Erwyn was reminded of the papermakers’ mills at the edge of town. While they were beyond the city walls, Ditto happened to know about a network of tunnels built by kobolds in that area of the city–some of whom had been a part of her extended family–used to provide drainage when the river got high. Erwyn remembered Thodri talking about investigating tunnels under the city when Creed went missing.

Discussion turned to what the cult had Tress working on, and the possibility that had been mentioned that basilisk venom could potentially be an antidote for the process. Erwyn remembered having once come across a druidic circle guarding a basilisk in the area that had the ability to turn people to crystal, and that basilisk venom could be used as an antidote to petrification since it was used to help them digest. Voski asked what the cult might possibly need great amounts of material for, and the party threw around several ideas revolving around spellcasting since the ability to create large diamonds could aid powerful magic.

Voski asked Amaranth what the Unseen were doing in Veritas and she replied that Nora had mentioned something about a war, which prompted speculation about whether they might also be involved with devils, since it seemed suspicious that the Rat knew about Amaranth having survived so soon after Hayel had been sent back to the Hells. 

The girls set about investigating the chest that Amaranth’s things were still magically contained in, and Ditto managed to notice there were two different colors to the filigree, possibly indicating a trap of some kind on it. Before she could test out her theory though, Kriv got a sudden Sending from Thodri, saying “Kriv, this is Thodri. We need to discuss the explosion at Inner Truths this morning. By Dumathoin’s beard, I swear to listen in good faith.”

“I’ll try my best and discuss it with the others,” he replied – which also alerted the others.

The party talked about whether or not they were able to trust her. Erwyn in particular expressed a hesitancy to talk to the DPL given what had just happened and Aurelia’s determination to see him locked up. Ditto pulled Amaranth aside to quietly explain to her about the shadow demon resurrecting him.

Kriv then got another Sending – “Aurelia’s made up her mind. I haven’t. I want to know the truth. I’ll be by the old baths at Candling. South entrance. Please come.”

“We’ll see,” he told her again, and relayed the information to the others.

As the group continued discussing the logistics of potentially meeting Thodri, Amaranth went and sat down next to Erwyn, who was still nervous about the idea. Kriv, however, said he felt that he at least should go and meet her. The party talked about logistics of meeting with her and how they could dodge certain questions while still explaining that the Raliv Mercantile Company weren’t what they seemed. 

Amaranth reassured Erwyn that the party would find a way to fix his situation, but he replied that he felt like he had to at least prepare himself for the possibility they wouldn’t. Ditto, overhearing this, said they would still help him find a way to manage it. However, she cautiously appended this with saying she thought that Erwyn shouldn’t be left alone until they found a solution. He replied that he wanted the party to make sure above all else that he didn’t hurt anyone, even if it involved hurting him. Erwyn then tried reading some Celestial, which made the whispers in his head angrier, but also quieter.

As they had some time before they were meeting anyone, Voski ducked into the demiplane to talk to Nora, asking if she and Amaranth had had much time to chat, before asking what the Rat wanted with Amaranth. Nora said she didn’t know, and had thought Amaranth was dead until they brought her in. Nora made Voski promise that if something happened to her, she’d try to stop Amaranth from doing anything stupid. Their conversation turned to the Rat’s presence in the city, and the fact that apparently he seemed to think there was going to be some big change in power in Veritas. Nora also mentioned that the Rat called Esmerelda’s people “Brand of the Sixth”

In parting, Voski warned. “Right now she trusts you because she needs to. I don’t really have either of those problems.”

It was storming when the party headed out, dark and gloomy and pouring rain. As they approached the old baths, they spotted Thodri, cloaked and smoking a stick of incense – and looking nervous. Kriv used his Divine Sense as they got closer, but only picked up on a few demon pigeons. He grimaced, walking forward, and greeted Thodri by saying “If you’re fooling around with us, you better just leave.”

Thodri swore on her holy symbol that she wasn’t and explained that the DPL had been sent to Mage’s Row – and that a tip had been sent in before whatever happened there. When they arrived on the scene, one of the guards who’d gotten there first gave a description of a bronze dragonborn and a small elf in a purple cloak they’d seen fleeing. That had been enough for Aurelia to make up her mind. 

Continuing, Thodri said that she knew things were getting worse – the omens she cast were getting darker by the day, the DPL wasn’t making any progress, and city leadership kept saying everything would be fine. She was clearly extremely frustrated. The party proceeded to explain about Esmerelda and her cult having a presence in the city, as well as some of the effects of the tinctures that Tress had discovered before the incident.

Kriv asked Thodri if she knew what had happened to Creed, and the group explained about the doppelgänger of him they’d seen with the cultists. She asked if the party had any helpful proof of where the cult was keeping people or evidence against them, but they had nothing. They discussed the fact that the city guilds would be hard to convince without it, since they seemed unconcerned with what was going on in the city. Their upcoming gala was a week and a day away, on the 31st.

Voski asked Thodri what resources she could access, to which she replied she might be able to have a look at the workhouse records, and might be able to get more information on the Raliv Mercantile company. The party told her what they suspected about the papermakers’ connection as well as the “transfer” of Joy they’d heard about, and the fiend and magic circle in the workhouse offices. When Ditto mentioned the latter, Kriv used Divine Sense once more, though he only picked up on pigeons again. He suggested she keep her voice down, and then told Thodri to check in often.

The group agreed Thodri could leave messages for the party at a bookstore on Printer’s Row, and could then Send them the title of whatever book she left a message in, and that the party would do the same if they needed to get in touch with her.

“Hm,” said Voski. “Leaving a message in a book. How novel.”

Thodri thanked the party for coming, saying she was terrified by what she’d learned but that knowledge was better than ignorance. Kriv cast Protection from Evil and Good on her as she left and told her to get inside quickly.

“May your god and mine watch over us,” she said.

“I sure hope they will,” Kriv replied.

The demonic pigeon flock had grown in size after their conversation, and followed the party back to their hiding place. Once there, Voski ritually cast Tiny Hut and the party organized watches – making sure someone would be awake to keep an eye on Erwyn that night. Amaranth told the others she’d be in the demiplane with Nora until it was her turn. Kriv took the first watch, which was uneventful, then Amaranth, and then Vosk, who spent her watch flipping through the text she had on Infernal legal language. Erwyn awoke during the latter’s watch; he had tranced restlessly that night, demonic whispers worming their way through his brain. Ditto took the last watch where she commented curiously on the Celestial Erwyn was reading trying to keep the whispers at bay.

As the Tiny Hut went down, Erwyn felt the whispers spike in volume, and the sensation of something pushing him down, keeping him from seeing what was happening. Suddenly, Ditto felt a sharp pain in her arm as Erwyn stabbed her with his sword, and looked up to see him standing there, his posture seeming wrong for a moment before his eyes cleared.

Erwyn babbled apologies as Ditto as she tried to make sure he was himself again. Quickly, they woke the others and she explained what had happened. Kriv healed her, and Amaranth went to put a comforting hand on Erwyn’s shoulder, but he drew away. Seeing him panicked, Kriv made eye contact with him and said “...I’m sorry.”

The party asked Erwyn if there had been any signs before he was possessed, and he explained it had happened as the Tiny Hut dropped. The group discussed what they could do in the future to try to prevent something similar from happening again. Ditto assured Erwyn that she wasn’t afraid of him, though he didn’t seem too comforted by it. As the conversation finished up, Erwyn received a Sending from Palava.

“Hey! We’re gonna be getting into town in a few hours. Where should we meet you?”