Loose Ends 24-02-2024 [[Session 12|<- Previous Session]] ### Recap Mingling at the fey banquet, the party encountered four powerful fey patrons who offered their guidance to the party. Nibiru had a click with Arrania, Smonk had a disturbing encounter with an unknown force, Gunther disrespected Oxcyllia, The professor gave up wearing hats, Bradley made friends with a noble man, while Majibili was just generally vibin'. Before the banquet ended, the party was confronted by the ruler of the shadowfell himself, Trixshade. Trixshade tried to kill the professor and rend the mind of Smonk for information. Trixshade managed to escape before the forces of Titania could capture him. The party went back for debriefing with Nyx, while Gunther and Smonk stayed behind to talk to his estranged brother Naezel. Afterwards the party made their way back to Oreton for their meeting with the rebellion. Though the meeting started out alright, tensions quickly arose between Bradley and the appointed head of the rebellion Allen. Before the conflict could be completely resolved, the party was interrupted by a large explosion outside of the Leaky Tap... ### Summary After rushing to the scene of the explosion with their new allies in tow, the party examined the crime scene. While some acted as decoys and distractions for the guards making their way over there, the professor used his deathly sense to speak to the small kid working for the Black Swans and soon discovered the crime had been committed by a large imposing figure in black and silver spiked armour. Identifying the action as a countermand against the Black Swans after they stole 'The Conduit' from the Chalice of Vitality, the party started looking for more information about this conduit, quickly finding a magical hideaway where the crooks of the Black Swans could escape through. After being delayed by the guards, the party finally converged in the hideaway tunnels deep in the mines of Oreton to find a large stash of contrabands. However, they didn't seem to be alone. A badly injured member of the Black Swans laid over a chest desperately trying to open it. The party went in to heal and interrogate, but before Smonks hands of healing could reach the crook, Smonks stature changed. His eyes grew dark as the monk began to rip into the flesh of the crook, trying to eat him whole. Though stopped by the party, Smonks turmoil reached a precipice and before anymore could be done, he walked out into the darkened hallway, not to be seen again. The party broke open the cases of the stash and looted a bunch of potions, as well as taking a bunch of magical weapons and items with them. Making their way back through the hideaway tunnels the party reconvened at the Leaky Tap to continue the meeting about the rebellion. The meeting concludes with the party first focussing on the threat of Koth, while the rebellion starts to spin their social machinations. Using both the social ins with the merchants and higher middle class via Allen, Gunther, and a letter from the professor to his brother, as well as a clever use of propaganda made possible by Nibiru's Olivers, the rebellion starts their play for public and international opinion. The party meanwhile refocuses on preventing Koth's arrival for the summer solstice. Being provided horses and a sleeping place the meeting is adjourned and the party leaves for the evening to set off early in the morning. The night doesn't go by quietly though. As soon as the party walks into the Sootsweep Inn the professor is recognized by a group of three travellers telling their exploits of raiding an Ankheg nest. These travellers are the Beasty Boys, a group consisting of a Halfling Monsterologist accompanied by two hirelings. Though Gobbel Glasseye, the Halfling, is more than happy to see the professor again after being saved by the Snigg Squad from feral cockatrices, one of the hirelings has a different air about him. Eying Nibiru constantly, the half-elf ranger Mike Wryleigh seems to have a chip on his shoulder about this new woman traveling with the party. After a small and heated confrontation that quickly spirals out, Mike challenges Nibiru to a duel. After a short but intense showdown, Nibiru strikes the final blow and kills Mike. The next day the party, now with Flynn and Allen by their sides, ride out towards the south to face whatever dangers the cult of Koth has in store for them. Not long after leaving the city the horses are suddenly flash frozen in place in an ominous fog. Out of the fog Krazzir approaches and engages the party in combat. Krazzir is a tough opponent and with his summoned corrupted corpses they prove a challenge for the party. However, the party holds fast and manage to bring Krazzir to the brink of death. Before the party can strike the finishing blow, Krazzir uses a weird purple scroll and vanishes. The party deals with the leftover corpses and continues their journey south. Further on their journey, the party must choose to go around a large forest or to cut through the forest to save time. The party decides to move through the forest. There in the deep woods the party feels an eery aura. Something in the trees feels off, like the land itself is reeling back from a repulsive force. During the night the party has trouble sleeping. Eventually only Nibiru is succumbed to this effect. The professor uses his chain of the unseelie eye to look for any creature and spots a horrific lanky humanoid spirit latching itself onto Nibirus chest. Though easily defeated, the encounter painted the rest of the night with an eery unease. The following day the party gets split up as Majibili follows a boar through the forest. Quickly it becomes clear that the boar is acting unusual. Following the boar, the party is lead to an ancient elven temple in the middle of the woods. After entering the overgrown temple the party encountered a lock mechanic that operated an elevator room. After some trial and error and figuring out what the symbols on the different turnstones stood for, the elevator took the party to the chancel room of the temple. There they opened the altar block and found a disturbing black creature staring back at them. After deliberating what to do, the professor eventually fell into the creature. Feeling it sift through his mind and leaving something behind, the professor found himself in a small side room with a lecture containing a peculiar dark green green book. Before the party could analyse the book completely, a strange force came over them: danger... The party rushed outside to see what this force could be and came face to face with a Tzeetch, a lore collector of Thoz. After countering the creature from speaking out words of power, the party entered a long and gruelling combat. Calling upon the Chained Library and Nyx to help them out the party tried to hold on as long as possible. The foe was too powerful to fell and eventually Nyx teleported the party to the safety of the Feywild. In Nyx's domain the party asked help with unpetrifying Bradley, as well as information about Smonk. However, it appeared that Smonk was not present in the Material Plane. Nyx gave the party a note from Isembard, which he had left behind with their patron, containing information about Koth and the Chaos Lords. When the coast was deemed safe, Nyx sent the party back to the Material Plane. Though there was no sign of the Tzeetch, it was unclear how much time had passed. The summer solstice could be closer than the party had planned for... ### NPCs * **Slip.** Small child working for the Black Swans. Deceased. * **Figure in Spiked Armor.** Someone working for the Chalice. Attacked the Black Swans for stealing 'the Conduit'. * **Randell Farland.** Spokesperson for Allen and the rebellion. * **Gobbel Glasseye.** Leader of the Beasty Boys. Beast and monster expert. Preparing to travel east to find a Bulbhog. * **Mike Wryleigh.** Half-elf ranger of the Beasty Boys. Has a vendetta against Nibiru. * **Krazzir.** An enhanced Oni. Servant to the Crones and councillor to the Baron. * **Monkey.** The completely inept and mentally scarred monkey of Flynn. No one knows the true horrors this poor creature has seen... * **Tzeetch.** A lore collector demon working for Thoz. One of the most terrifying foes the party has ever encountered. * **Nyx.** Patron of the party. A rather untrustworthy Fey. * **Library Hag.** A hag that works for the Chained Library. Took the green book from the professor, as well as put in a ticket for their cry for help. ### Loot * Documentation of Black Swans (Professor) * 16 x Greater healing potions (split up) * Midas potion (Bradley) * Translucent and opalescent potion (Bradley) * Viscous dark blue potion (Bradley) * 4 x Green with black spots potion (Majibili) * 5 x Light green with pink swirls potion (Majibili) * Deep purple potion (Majibili) * Sparkling red and orange potion (Majibili) * 3 x Fizzy turquoise (Majibili) * 3 x Grainy beige potion (Majibili) * Gray potion (Majibili) * 2 x Moss green with brown potion (Majibili) [[Website/DND/Curse of the Crones/Sessions/Main/Session 14|Next Session ->]]