Session 31 Prep

Set Expectations

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

• Distractions, please keep above table conversation to a minimum; especially in roleplay moments. There’s been some feedback that sometimes lately it’s gotten to a stage where it’s detracted from the overall experience - so please be mindful of what’s going on.
  • be respectful
  • be the audience that you would want
  • be considerate of all the time that’s been and being invested
• Probably a very roleplay heavy session; given we had such a long combat last time.

Recap & Re-Familiarize

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

Last we left off…

• investigated The Hidden Leaf which seemed to be afflicted by some type of stasis.
  • morse code, SOS.
  • Tree glyphs
• explored the Feywild
  • Heard some stories from SHAI about his youth
• Arrived at woods that reminded most of you of the Shadesorrow Forest
• Big tree
• Combat
  • Kezark died, for a second

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.

apologies are in order

• “oh my - that got very out of hand. I do apologize for testing you maybe a bit too hard…”
• “Please - I think you’ve earned this… Select 1 of the following”
  • Amulet of Retributive Healing
    • This amulet has 3 charges and regains 1d4 charges daily at dawn. When you restore Hit Points to one other creature, you can expend 1 charge to regain the same amount of Hit Points.
  • Bead of Force
    • This small black sphere measures 3/4 of an inch in diameter and weighs an ounce. Typically, 1d4 + 4 Beads of Force are found together.
    • You can take a Magic action to throw the bead up to 60 feet. The bead explodes in a 10-foot-radius Sphere on impact and is destroyed. Each creature in the Sphere must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take 5d4 Force damage. A sphere of transparent force then encloses the area for 1 minute. Any creature that failed the save and is completely within the area is trapped inside this sphere. Creatures that succeeded on the save or are partially within the area are pushed away from the center of the sphere until they are no longer inside it. Only breathable air can pass through the sphere’s wall. No attack or other effect can pass through.
    • An enclosed creature can take a Utilize action to push against the sphere’s wall, moving the sphere up to half the creature’s Speed. The sphere can be picked up, and its magic causes it to weigh only 1 pound, regardless of the weight of creatures inside.
  • Gem of Seeing
    • This gem has 3 charges. As a Magic action, you can expend 1 charge. For the next 10 minutes, you have Truesight out to 120 feet when you peer through the gem.
    • The gem regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
  • Bag of Beans
    • This heavy cloth bag contains 3d4 dry beans when found. The bag weighs half a pound regardless of how many beans it contains and becomes a nonmagical item when it no longer contains any beans.
    • If you dump one or more beans out of the bag, they explode in a 10-foot-radius Sphere centred on them. All the dumped beans are destroyed in the explosion, and each creature in the Sphere, including you, makes a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw, taking 5d4 Force damage on a failed save or half as much damage on a successful one.
    • If you remove a bean from the bag, plant it in dirt or sand, and then water it, the bean disappears as it produces an effect 1 minute later from the ground where it was planted. The DM can choose an effect from the following table or determine it randomly.
  • Cube of Force
    • This cube is about an inch across. Each face has a distinct marking on it. You can press one of those faces, expend the number of charges required for it, and thereby cast the spell associated with it (save DC 17), as shown in the Cube of Force Faces table.
    • The cube starts with 10 charges, and it regains 1d6 expended charges daily at dawn. With a good angle - persuasion for more items is possible.

Additionally - I think this is well within order:

• 3 Diamonds, 2 worth 300 gold and 1 worth 50 gold.
• A Revival Whistle
  • 3 charges, +1 charge at dawn. As a bonus action you may expend 1 charge to roll a D20 (adding your proficiency bonus); with a DC of 8 + level.
  • A successful roll allows you to select an ally within 500ft, they may cast the Revivify spell as a free action on their next turn; so long as they have the components necessary.

further 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; signalling 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.

• “I sense you have a broken map in your possession - let me fix that for you.”
  • GIVE THEM THE MAP
  • “Despite this map - do not underestimate the Shades.”

Homecoming?

• Timothy will ask for a way home; saying he was told by Alys’Sra that the Arcanist Arboreal could provide him. Arcanist Arboreal will reveal that Timothy is not the only of their troupe who want to return to the Material Plane with haste.
  • *“I think I need to return to the sea… I need to find where I fit in this vast world. Thank you The Fated Eight - for helping me this far. It’s been short, but pleasant! I could not have survived what we’ve encountered since *
  • “Thank you especially Aurevald for recognizing me, and for believing in me! You made me feel welcome when I felt I was not sure who I could trust…”
  • 
• “I can send those of you with no attachment to SHAI home, but I must implore those whomst he and they call each other friends to remain here with him.”
• Azriel will step forward and loudly proclaim:
  • “Well it looks like it’s finally time for me to leave your chaotic group! Best of luck really - sounds like you’re going to need it!”
  • Gesturing to the tree to send him back already!

Two portals open up near Timothy and Azriel as they each step through and leave The Fated Eight..

Rest

• “There is much I must ponder; and you all seem exhausted. Please; rest here for the night. We may discuss further in the morrow”

Plots Points/Paths Forward

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

Watatsumi’s Reveal

• Did not believe he was truly the Successor - but the blood does not lie.

  • “It is distant, but you ARE the descendent of Rasu Cheon…”

• First member of his lineage he has struggled to resonate and connect with.

  • “I am struggling to find common ground with you…”

• What do you seek? Why do you get up every time you knocked down?

• What does The Path represent to you? What does “Heavenly Demon” mean to you?

• Your blood revealed something else to me - a memory of sorts. I wish to show you - maybe your fresh eyes can help me decipher what I am seeing?

You find yourself standing atop a cliff as a rocky, frigid landscape consumes your vision. Two foreboding towers come into focus - resting at different heights atop the mountainous hills across from you. You notice their roofs; overhanging the exterior a half a meter or so, are ornately decorated - with a pointed, tiled top in the centre, and four titled juts that extend outwards at angles. Each floor is also adorned by similar juts that make the building seem daunting. Around the base of each tower are large, pale stone walls with tiled tops that define a stable perimeter. The walls extend to make secure & pathway between the two towers.

Your vision is caught as the moonlight illuminates something at the base of the bottom of the two towers. You see numerous figures in decorative, armoured robes made of mostly blacks, greys, deep reds or purples. Most are wearing either wide brimmed hats, or headbands that cover their entire foreheads - a seeming point of pride as in both cases; the head covering is well adorned with decoration and symbolism. It was the reflection of the moonlight in one of these figures’ bladed-polearms as he lunges forward acrobatically at some figure you cannot see.

A moment later - you feel the ground beneath you rumble vigorously as you see glimpses of masculine figure causing small earth quakes with each step; and each of his blows launching another of the armoured figures back 30 or more feet with ease. You can’t make out much of this figure - but you see flashes of his pale skin, his simple black leather robes, and mixes of crimson red and bright white. As this figure is just about to come into sight - you feel yourself being tugged away from where you are, and your vision goes black…

PAUSE FOR SUSPENSE

For just a moment. Your vision returns as you now feel tense and uneasy - before you realize you are now experiencing the life of one of the men within that bottom tower. You look down at your hand to find Watatsumi - The Blade Of Ramping Tides; in it’s original form, as you take in the body you now inhabit. A very ornate Hanbok; made mostly of the darkest black fabric available, covers this figure’s form - with deep purple silk sewn into the neckline and interior. You catch a glimpse of this figure’s face in the perfectly polished blade of Watatsumi - The Blade Of Ramping Tides. At first glance - you could easily be convinced that it was your own face. You realised closer up that whoever’s body this is is older; not by much, and stronger than your own; by many leagues.

PAUSE FOR EFFECT

Your attention is brought back to the tower as you feel a gust of wind nearly knock you off balance… as you see the silhouette of the figure from earlier approach; launching blow after blow in your direction. It takes all the strength this form has to withstand the assault. Despite the many leagues between yourself and this body you now inhabit, A brief reprieve; granted by the figure turning attention to one another man - as a torrential onslaught of punches sends them rocketing upwards through multiple levels of the tower.

WHAT IS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND AT THIS MOMENT?

WING IT FOR A BIT

The figure comes into view as his fists are consumed by flames. His pale skin almost glowing in the reflected moonlight - and the red rings in his eyes seemingly gazing into your soul… “Suijin! I warned you what would happen if you went back on your word. he yells as he lunges for you.

Your vision goes dark. And you are back in your own body…

Morgyn’s Miracle?

• How does Sophia feel about reviving Kezark? How has it affected her feelings toward The Fate-Cloaked Maiden, if at all?

Kezark’s brush with death

• What is on Kezark’s mind after his brief but very real brush with death?
• Has it changed, or renewed, anything within Kezark?

A NEW DAY… LONG REST

The 3 Relics

• Arcanist doesn’t know much, but he was told the name of one of the places by PIERCE - in the Southeast there is a ruins named Drasiyl’s Path; named after Drasiyl - the Great Tree of Wisdom
  • He highlights the rough location on the map; south easternly. Leads to the ancients ruins where Terralpi are
• He was told the locations of other two would reveal themselves if the first can be recovered…

Wing it:

• Great Trees
  • Irmryn and Drasiyl, memory and fundamental forces.
• A rather large earthquake will shake as they head back towards the ruins/Drasiyl’s Path…