Session 30 Prep

Set Expectations

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

• Roll for Scribe.
  • Is anyone certainly unable to do it this session?
• Pick up from the cliff hanger of last session
• SIGNATURES
• Keep up the good roleplay,
• CHARTER

Recap & Re-Familiarize

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

Last we left off…

We saw a glimpse of the life Morgyn lived when she lived by the name Sophia - Sophia Argent to be specific. We saw Sophia struggle with faith as she renounced her vows as a Maiden in a private final prayer, before returning to sleep.

We saw Jin flex his skills as he attempted to cook salted-beef sandwiches on his breastplate - before being offered a wok by a concerned Terralpi. Aurevald and Jin also spoke with Dridge about the former’s axe, and the potential for the latter’s tutelage.

SHAI noticed that the path you had been taking had shifted - likely due to your extended rest at the stronghold, and guided you all towards and through a marshlands. It was here that you all ran into a Human man that Aurevald seemed to recognize - Captain Timothy Corazón. Your introductions were brief however as a giant shadow suddenly appeared above you - before a five-headed, black-feathered, and absolutely massive monstrosity known as the Honkdra. The creature proved challenging - but the collective might of your troupe was able to overcome it with only Timothy Corazón falling unconscious briefly.

Timothy; on advice from a mage called Dell, told SHAI that they should head Northwards with haste - before pointing Southeast on the map. After a short discussion - you made your way through a forest path and encountered a barrier of sorts; one that asserted the friendship of those passing through it, before continuing on to see your first sight of SHAI’s society - The Hidden Leaf - from the top of a cliff.

The truly colossal construct resting over an even larger lake came into sight - as some of you noticed a very faint, somewhat humanoid looking object floating above the main city; known as Boston. As you scaled the hill/cliff, and crossed one of the massive bridges towards The Hidden Leaf - SHAI noticed an eerie, shimmer over the city. Approaching the entrance - SHAI noticed a familiar man with an outstretched hand on the other side of the barrier; as the Changeling Wizard realized the entire city behind him was lifeless and unmoving. The man he recognized, was PIERCE; his teacher and one of the leaders of The Hidden Leaf…

And that’s where we’ll pick up from… < reiterate the last thing to happen/change >

The current day is ??, the ? of ??, ??. < time of day / weather etc >

Immediate Event

The immediate action for the Party to deal with.

What’s Going On In The Hidden Leaf?

• Barrier / bubble? More like a threshold.
  • They can try to traverse it; but will learn quickly they are not welcome.
    • Staying for longer than 1 round they will start to take psychic damage as specters/lost souls feast on their resources (1d4 psychic damage, and lose a spell slot of that level; or any combination that sum to it if they have it)
  • Entering will show them more closely how ruined this place is; cracks all through the concrete base, greyscale pools of blood locked in stasis.
• Investigation
  • There seems to be pulses or blips of vibrations emanating away from the threshold outwards.
  • PIERCE’s hand is right up against the threshold; a keen eye will see his finger twitching slightly against the threshold; in rhythm with the pulses.
  • A clever person will realize that the pulses are 3 short, 3 long, and 3 short. SOS
• If they get lost; - Timothy can prompt SHAI - a high Arcana check can notice a hint to a tree within the glyphs modulating through the faint shimmer of the threshold (visual aid; playstation controller with the tiny textured symbols)

Plots Points/Paths Forward

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

Path To The Arcanist Arboreal

• eventually guide them here unless they wanna do something else
• SHAI will remember it being a safe every time he had been there; but he did have one of the big 3 with him always so TMMV

Wing it

• Have SHAI tell us some stories from his time at school/as a youth
• Someone roll a perception check to see if they’re being followed 👀
• Maybe they hear a familiar wingbeat to the one the Honkdra made.

As they get closer - they pass through a clearing as it suddenly feels night has set in. A quick check will show it hasn’t - and this part of the forest reminds them of the Shadesorrow Forest from their earliest journey together.

• Ask one of them to reminisce a story from that time for Kezark, Azriel, and/or Timothy Corazón who weren’t there.

Combat

After an hour more of walking or so - you notice a pale glow throw the thicket around you; SHAI you know this is the way to go.

The pale glow gets brighter as you approach carved-out clearing within the forest; there is seemingly no path forwards from here. What you do see in front of you is a large, silverwood-esque tree with an opening cut out of it; the source of the glow seemingly inside of it. You all don’t hear much aside from the forest creatures around you. SHAI - you know that it is far too quiet here.

• voice booms “what are you doing here”
• “Identify yourselves…”
• “SHAI… Intriguing. The contingency has been activated… a test must be administered to ensure identity.”
• 3 sage like trees appear, along with 6 smaller sapling like creatures

I need you all to roll initiative.

COMBAT GUIDE

After

• talk with Arcanist Arboreal

  • give his backstory

  • explain the contingency. an external force brought forth the promised day too early; and the ascension failed. A stasis loop was engaged to prevent further damage to their society.

  • The contingency relied around one of The Big Three fleeing the city and finding 3 relics; each one chosen by one of them, to “stabilize” the situation. He assumed that ALLEN was coming as both the Aspect Of Magic and Aspect of Combat were injured; signaling that PIERCE and GARNETT are injured as well.

  • If none of tb3 come; then SHAI is the only hope for The Hidden Leaf…

    • Insight check: he seems to be recalling something long forgotten; but you aren’t sure what it’s in reference to.