Session 22 Prep

Set Expectations

Set the expectations for the session and communicate any above table information FIRST before starting the session…

• Been a minute, this session will wrap up the events of last session and lead into the start of the ball. I recommend you try tie up any immediate loose ends within Roan.
• How formal we going for ball attire? Weather consideration.
• Food? RIP Poppy’s
• Bulk Dice order?
• Any questions before we start?

TODO:

• Print notes
• Print letter for Lady

Recap & Re-Familiarize

Recap the previous session events with brevity, then reintroduce them to the world.

Last we left off… The Fated Eight & Varg’s Valiants crossed paths in the tunnels of The Hollow Crypt - a Dwarvish burial ground from The Arcanic Age.

You all managed to quell tensions between Aurevald & Ulbrig before solving the puzzle within the room to progress deeper within the cave system. At the end - you reached a chamber of truly massive scale - with only a stone platform suspended on a central stalagmite over a ominous dark pit.

It was on this platform that a multi-staged battle occurred between your 12 heroes and avatars of a Demonic entity. Firstly Kezark; his free will supressed by it’s powers, launched an offensive against you - aided by 5 ghouls in his visage. As you repelled his assault - Caesar Plight made his presence known - calling forth shadowy tendrils around the edge of the platform. It looked grim for your troupe at one stage after Graxious was slain by Caesar Plight - but as Aurevald had warned him earlier, his own hubris was his undoing. Caesar Plight threw a diamond in Morgyn’s direction and taunted the novice Cleric to “bring him back”. Through sheer miracle - with aid from Somnus’ faith in both The Fate-Cloaked Maiden and Morgyn - she was able to bring the Leonin Paladin back to life.

Caesar Plight was felled shortly afterwards but the fight dragged on - as you all realised that damaging the physical body was no longer hurting the Demonic entity in control - until one of your troupe realized that it was susceptible to fire damage.

Weakening the entity enough - it became desperate and revealed it’s true form to you all. A truly huge shadowy serpentine creature erupted from the chest of the body once called Caesar Plight. All hope seemed lost before a spectral Dwarf rallied & commanded an army of Dwarvish souls to overpower the The Plight Of Graff Críoch allowing you all to slay it. Lady managed to land the final blow on the creature - sending it back to the Abyssal Plane.

In the moments following the battle’s conclusion - you were witness to the figures of Carmen Flint & a Human man aparating on opposite sides of the chamber. Carmen swiftly rushed after the man whilst yelling the name “Keith” as tears streamed down her face. Kyle - you recalled a far off memory from your own youth about a Keith Sail who had been adopted by Carmen Flint’s father before mysteriously disappearing in his 20s.

And that’s where we’ll pick up from…

Varg’s Valiants you have taken Keith Sail & Carmen Flint with you as you made your way up a winding but sturdy stone staircase before arriving atop the mountainside to take your first breaths of fresh air in multiple days.

For The Fated Eight; you have finished exploring this chamber and are confident it holds no more secrets for you. Aurevald now wields Fimbul - The Edge Of Winter and Eytri Forgefist has once against moved to tend to the odd stones embedded into the walls of the chamber.

The current day is Fronmark, the 25th of Vaelorn, 920 PD. You are unsure what time it is outside or what the weather is like.

Immediate Event

The immediate action for the Party to deal with.

• Any questions for Eytri Forgefist - ask them now
• After ten or so minutes; railroad them up the stairs. Whilst on the stairs - do interlude

Interlude

Meanwhile - I’d like to take you elsewhere in Vaelorys briefly and show you what’s happening there.

“Three hooded figures - one brutish, one lithe, and one clinical - blink into an oddly shaped chamber. The chamber is dimly lit before one of them illuminates it through Arcane means.

There is a large Arcane contraption in the centre of the chamber - and on the outer wall are four tunnels leading away in each of the cardinal directions. Whatever this contraption had been used for, seems to have damaged it permanently - with runic cables torn, Arcane glyphs scorched, and metal gears shorn into multiple pieces.

The brutish figure turns to say - ‘The Boss isn’t gonna’ be happy if we’re too late.’ before searching the room for something.

The Clinical figure retorts ‘You worry about finding what we’re looking for AND leave worrying about The Boss to me & our frien-’

The Lithe figure interjects before the Clinical one could finish ‘Whilst you two were blathering - look what I found’ before presenting a torn piece of cloth with dried blood on it.

The trio rapidly worked to study the blood and confirm it’s likely source.

‘Will it work? Is it hers?’ the Lithe one said eagerly
’I bet The Boss will give us a huge payout if we get this right…’ the Brutish one chimed in
’I believe; my dear colleagues, we have indeed found a sample of her blood’ the Clinical one confirmed as a grin split across their face.

The Brutish one thought to themselves for a second before counting with their hands for a bit
’Only 7 more to go then!’ the brutish one said as the other two figures let out a pained sigh.
‘Only SIX more to go’ the Lithe one quips back before turning to search the rest of the chamber.
‘I don’t get it - why would they name themselves that if they weren’t being truthful’ the Brutish one said sheepishly before shuffling to a different part of the chamber than the other two. ‘Found more! We’re equal now!’ he said childishly.”

As we fade away from that scene, The Fated Eight have now made their way through the staircase and have regrouped with Varg’s Valiants who are tending to their wounds and gathering their thoughts about the events of the last few days.

Regroup & Getting Home

• Wing this section
  • Walking on foot will take days and is risky
  • With foresight - they can try ask Eytri Forgefist for transport of some description.
  • Keith Sail will take his leather jacket off as a piece of parchment falls out of the pocket.
  • He’ll read it and hand it to one of The Fated Eight to read.
  • Hand Lady the letter…

Plots Points/Paths Forward

Details about various plot threads that can be explored this session - with a subheading for each one.

The Hidden Eye

• Morgyn and Jin both have tokens to visit The Hidden Eye by asking for “The seaweed ale” at a specific tavern in The Ratways.
  • If they forget the passphrase - they can spend time/rolls to sit and wait in the bar to see someone else come by (sternly remind them to take their own notes next time.)
• They are taken up to a well-furnished room with an ornate mirror opposite the bed. Inspection will show them it’s enchanted and that it can warp space.
• Entering the mirror will warp them to a mysterious but warm chamber. Noise can be heard on the other side of the door.
• Entering they will meet a Goliath bartender named Gruff Tankard - who will offer them drinks and welcome them to The Hidden Eye before asking them who invited them here.
• Either by request or by chance Layton and Lukhas Tophat will appear and will teach them about The Hidden Eye - a secret information ring based out of The Creeks.
  • Spying on the Vaena Kingdom from within to rout corruption and provide transparent rule for all.

Morgyn:

• Morgyn can speak with Layton freely here - learning that Kassill Angrum was one of the founding members but has resigned to avoid suspicion within the King’s court.
  • Kassill Angrum was still providing intel on Beck Family but has recently gone silent. Layton is concerned for his safety but has to trust that he can handle himself.
  • Layton proposes that Morgyn could aid them uncover whatever the conspiracy at the core of this is all about - before saying he thinks the war with Orsana is a sham.
  • Riff a bit with Morgyn - see if you can tease out any theories from them about who is behind all this…

Jin:

• Upon asking for his contact - he will be taken to a small stone enclave where a large stone statue of a muscular man sits with his legs crossed. “A mirror reveals all; facades fade when you reflect another’s actions…”
• Mirroring his pose will trigger the stone to crack and crumble - revealing Vincent Stone - a older but very toned Martial artist who will recognise the detailing on Watatsumi. **DC15 History check for Lady/Morgyn if nearby to recall about the Stone Family - progenitor of Martial arts across Otheria; **
  • DC16 Dex save as a fist is launched in the blink of an eye at Jin. Fail == no damage as the fist stops a hairs length before his face, success impresses him somewhat. “Impressive reflexes, but had I been trying to hit you you would’ve only delayed the inevitable a moment longer.”
• Jin can speak with Vincent Stone for insights
  • “The Path Of The Heavenly Demon is not often walked so brazenly, young one”
  • “I am not of your family - but your family is of mine.”
  • Wing this part I never know what Simon wants

Lady:

• Vincent Stone can also recognize Lady by her features and approach her at a later time in the session.
  • “It is rare to see a Phoenix so young in it’s reincarnation…”
  • Recalls a memory protecting a young boy with the same colour hair as her from a Wolf attack, he said his name was “Ignis”
  • Bracers are indeed a family heirloom - they are enchanted with Magic that confused even the Gods. They seem to have expended a large amount of energy in the last few weeks - does she know why? Regardless, they do seem to be increasing in power (Lady will notice that they are pulsing faintly; realizing it started doing that after slaying Cae’Saren, The Plight Of Graff Críoch)

Questions

• Who’s the leader?
  • He’s out right now but he prefers not to be named due to his public position. Visiting his offices will show a magical contraption that plays music from discs. PLAY THELNYRON MUSIC
• How long has this been here?
  • A number of years on the small but it has ramped up in the past 3 years - after the death of Prince Tarlon Vaena III.
• Why The Creeks?
  • Far from the capital
  • Considered “foul land” so unlikely they’d ever build anything here.

BLUE’s folly

• IF Ash seems bored/not participating much:
  • BLUE will reach out the them with a pained message saying “something’s not right - I’m being hunted. Fleeing for safety in Fortune Markets. Follow the Huskerdust… but do not let them catch you.”

Portals Closed

If SHAI tries to check a portal to the Feywild - they will learn that the portals are closed from the other side; which can only mean one thing…

• DC19 Arcana to gleam the sky and make sense of the constellations.
• DC25 to interpret Elon Musk Assassination as an unsheathed dagger…

Amensic Halfling Woman

• Visiting the Roan Chapel - it’ll be revealed the Amensic Halfling Woman awoke sporadically, wrote a note and counted some coins, and bolted without so much as a goodbye.
  • The note has a poorly drawn Tiefling on it and says “Name’s Liara - thanks for looking after me cutie!”

Flash Forwards

• Everyone spends some time organizing the final bits of their outfits; preparing
• The day of the ball arrives, the city is amok with celebration for High Quarterfest - there are carnival games on, taverns are selling festive drinks and food, and there is a general sense of cheer around the town.
• The celebrations quiet a bit in the afternoon as people get tired or head home for their familial ceremonies or church activities. Meanwhile - the elites are all preparing for the Beck Family ball. You all finish getting ready and make your way towards the Beck Family manor in Castletown.
• As the sun begins to set - that’s where our session will end as we prepare for the ball next session.

Post Credits

That’s where this session ends for your characters - because for the second time this session; I’d like to take you somewhere else on Vaelorys and show you what’s happening there:

“Three hooded figures - one Brutish, one Lithe, and one Clinical - blink into a dark laboratory. They seem familiar with the space and move in-time with each other towards the back of the room.

They approach an illuminated table and stand around it. The Lithe figure pulls a cloth off the table revealing a automaton with a humanoid structure - the mechanisms of which are covered by dimly glowing white panels.

Silently - the Brutish figure hands over a vial of blood to the Clinical figure; who proceeds to charge it with some Arcane power before loading it into a nearby device.

‘Everyone… Step back - this part’s the risky part; never know what kinda quality Moretti’s hardware is gonna be’ they say before gesturing to the other two to follow them.
‘Just in case…’ the Lithe one chimed in as they cast a protective barrier around the three of them.

The Clinical one turns and rotates a glyph with their right hand as the device whirs to life. Gears turn, glyphs activate, and runic cables crackle as the automaton’s eyes alight bright yellow. The device containing the blood spins around faster and faster before coming to a sudden stop. Tubes suck the blood up and into the automaton; still stationary on the table.

‘I’m going to kill Vito myself if he blue-balls us this hard for nothing’ the Lithe one says as the three figures watch the automaton glow brighter and brighter before a blinding flash takes the room.

Moments later… The figures look at the table where the automaton had been - only to see a Half-Elf woman, a toned muscular body, with jet-black hair that ends in blood red tips.

‘It worked, good. Go and finish the other 6 samples. I’m going to take this one to meet The Boss.’ the Clinical one commands as the Brutish figure lays an identical automaton to the first onto the table, whilst the Lithe figure prepared the next sample of blood. ”

and that’s where we’ll end today’s session…