Session 32 Prep

Set Expectations

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

• New bin, recycling on the bottom, rubbish on the top.
• Thank you Emily for being scribe last session, does anyone want to volunteer or shall we roll for it?
• Thank you for those who’ve filled out the check-in form, the responses have been very useful. I’ll definitely have some follow up questions.
  • Would be awesome if I could get everyone to respond so I have an accurate view of where everyone’s individual perspectives are at.
  • One piece of feedback I will be implementing is a blanket feedback form so people have more ways to make suggestions or provide feedback.
• Not sure how long this session will run, don’t want to run super late because you’ve all been out on your feet, and I have to be up early for a date tomorrow.

Recap & Re-Familiarize

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

Last we left off…

• you gathered your thoughts after the Arcanist Arboreal’s trial, where you learned that SHAI’s society had undergone a contingency following interference with an ascension. Typically one of The Big Three would be tasked with correcting the contingency but seemingly none of them were able to arrive, leaving only SHAI available to complete the task.
• You bid farewell to Timothy Corazón and Azriel Ashblossom - the two Human compatriots you’d met whilst on your journey through the Feywild thus far.
• You rested within the woods of the Arcanist Arboreal where Jin and then later Aurevald had visions/memories that left them with more questions than answers.
• You were granted rewards for overcoming such a difficult trial; and tasked with visiting 3 sites; Drasiyl’s Path, Cinder’s Den, and The Training Grounds, and discover a treasure placed there by a member of The Big Three.
• With your map restored and goal in mind, you made you way towards Cinder’s Den - where you encountered a strange Gorr’Yll male named Magnus Coatshire, with Jin luckily avoiding an encounter with the figure after slashing at his home in anger.
• The figure pointed you in the correct direction of Cinder’s Den - veering off the path set out by the map, as you went your separate ways. Moments later - the earth shook violently requiring quick reflexes to avoid falling into the maw of an embedded creature of some sort.
• Keen eyes noticed two unconscious Terralpi children in the center of the maw; and your troupe rapidly moved into action to rescue them; with Aurevald and SHAI atop Kjott’s back.
• Despite the presence of pack of Displacer Beasts; led by a singular beast covered in a shadowy aura - your were able to save both the two children you’d originally seen, and an additional child only noticed as the maw began to close shut; thanks to the collective efforts of all of your members.
• The gaping maw in the ground closed shut around the pack of Displacer Beasts before the shadowy aura floated upwards from beneath…

And that’s where we’ll pick up from… with The Fated Eight watching this cloud of shadowy mist coalesce into a vaguely humanoid form…

You are unsure what day it is - however it is a gloomy morning.

Immediate Event

The immediate action for the Party to deal with.

The Shadow

• How do they respond to the shadow?

Azriel Returns

• The shadowy essence that appeared from the ground shifts into a blonde human man as Azriel appears, unconscious, on the ground.

I’d like to take you all back to see what happened after Azriel left your group…

Re-play the last few story beats from after Azriel left - but watching them from a downwards angle.

• Arrives in the cold wastes of Stahn and gathers his bearings for maybe an hour before he feels growing sharp pain in his stomach - before blacking out face first into the snow.
• Wakes up and sees himself watching The Fated Eight them as they left the Arcanist Arboreal’s lair. You realize that you’re a spectator as your body moves on instinct to carefully stalk them.
• Seeing them meet Magnus Coatshire
  • Insight check (advantage, DC11); Magnus Coatshire is lying and doesn’t even realize it himself, you can smell it on him.
• Falling from a great height as the ground below begins to rumble, DEX save (advantage, DC15). The fall hurts but there’s no time because food is nearby.
• Sees The Fated Eight trying to rescue two Terralpi children - as you feel this strange body lunge forwards after a snack.
• The vision goes dark as a pair of Displacer Beasts converge on you instead… you are greeted by the familiar sight of a well dressed Fey man
  • “Welcome back dear Azriel - enjoy your little staycation did we? Tsk Tsk tsk trying to dodge the duties I’ve assigned you after all I’ve done for you. How rude! You should be more careful next time - or I might make that transformation permanent?”

Azriel will feel something; or someone, calling him vaguely Southeast…

Interlude:

• Give them time to catch up, riff with them for a bit
• Ask them to give us some insights into how each of them are feeling

Terralpi Kids

• A teenage girl; Veda, and two twin brothers; Eryk and Bjorn.

• The kids will wake up and say that they were searching for The Eternal Mountain - a figure their parents talked about with reverence

  • (hint that they’re from the tribe that Aurevald was told to not place too much stock in the words of. Their clothes, their accent, etc)

• Information about The Eternal Mountain:

  • One of them will swear they saw him for a moment before he flew off into the air. The other two won’t believe him… (DC 17 insight will be clear he’s being genuine)
  • “my parents say he’s really strong, and that he’s been alive for a really long time!! Like - from when my grandfather was young and he’s super old now!!”
  • “My mum said that he’s super tall and can carry a tree in both hands!!”

• One kid will ask if they want to hear her song

  • and she’ll start humming a tune (Springdancer’s Tune) whilst dancing elegantly
  • DC14 Religion check will reveal it almost sounds reverent/prayer music.

Eventually an adult Terralpi man will pop his head up and scold the children:

• Irish : “Oh thank the heavens you’re all alright! That’ll be a month of chores for the three of you!!!
• named Kludge
• upon seeing Aurevald he’ll kinda step back before getting on one knee and deferring “Oh my lord - you actually found him?”

Riff for a bit before Kludge takes the kids home…

Plots Points/Paths Forward

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

Allexander’s Notes

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GID5LUOJXFf0jbj_g1ISZTBnrVbFSnjtJUZJt_cjIc0/edit?usp=sharing

Path to Cinder’s Den

• Eventually get them back on the path
• Investigation check; they’ll find a journal with most of the pages torn out. give them Entry 742.
• They’ll notice the muck begin to dry out and the trees get thinner as they crest a wide hill…

Cinder’s Den (fake)

As you crest the hill, you’re immediately hit by a wave of heat - as the muck beneath your feet is replaced by dry, dusty stone, and the trees replaced by large columns of stone that jut upwards. Glowing cracks beneath the ground pulse with radiant heat as magma radiates from ahead. Those of you not resistant to the heat find yourself having to jump over the cracks to avoid physical harm.

Riff for a bit, see if they ask interesting questions or have fun character moments.

Your journey comes to a halt as even more intense wave of heat rushes through all of you - as you approach one edge of what was probably once a bridge, but is now just the bank of a very wide river of molten magma. A curtain of soot and steam obscure your vision of the other side.

What do you all make of this?

• Arcana 17, reveals that there is indeed something magical about these surroundings. The source seems to be coming from below the magma.
• Perception 19, reveals that there is something artificial about this space, the heat radiates too consistently if you pay attention.
• Insight 20, reveals that the sensation from the heat doesn’t quite feel like it should; it’s not the skin hurting but something more internal to the brain.

RIFF Eventually SHAI’s crow will flash white and the purple segment will separate; floating off into into the magma. The heat and light around you fades - as you all take a split second to adjust your vision to your new surroundings.

Cinder’s Den (Real)

The illusion fades as you now find yourself in a dank, decrepit woods without much for light. The path leads in a singular direction - towards a weathered doorway opposite you. The doorway seems to be slanted to face the sky - as if the foundations beneath it have sunk below the ground.

Entry:

• Large foyer, broken staircases on either side - only clear pathway is through to the dining hall.

Room 1

You walk into the room and are taken by mostly poorly lit dining room with a large central table in the centre with 10 chairs around it. Bookshelves line the wall to your left and a piano the wall to your right. On the far way opposite the door is a lit fireplace.

Azriel will hear Zarkadyne The Thorn in his mind…

System:

• Flower puzzle, 3 stages. Set in a large dining room with a fireplace opposite them.
  • Search: Search the room for clues - finding three flowers.
  • Set: Place the roses in the correct spots to unlock the alcove
  • Unlock: Put the roses into the plate on the alcove

Room 2

Loot

• A long hallway with 4 doors, 2 on either side: Zarkadyne The Thorn: “So many doors! He’s really trying to keep you from finding me, isn’t he?”

Door 1:

• Leads to a small private chambers
• If Azriel enters - they’ll all notice the doorway they came through doesn’t exist. Replaced by a solid stone wall.
• Azriel sword is the key.
• Give them some loot from the table above

Door 2:

• A spiral staircase that leads to a study with tall bookshelves.
• The room seems to have been used for alchemical purposes.

Experiment Log Subject retained greater sanity and control despite enhanced abilities. Baseline dosage increased to 5 drops per hour for 1 day.

A breakthrough is imminent, I must hurry. Time is short - I cannot draw suspicion this close to the finish line.

Door 3:

• Opens into the backside of a jail cell.
• The blood seems sickly; as if it has been cursed. Part human, part fey creature.
• The book is written in rushed Sylvan; 4 legible sentences.
  • “I don’t know what is happening to me. I was supposed to be cured - but my head feels like it’s splitting.”
  • “Why do I have wings? What did he do to me???”
  • “I’m seeing double of everything…”
  • “Something is trying to bury it’s way out of my torso…”