Disaster start — couldn’t join Meshnet. Smh Hans, why did you uninstall all your drivers.
Cleanup
Lorien Painbearer Lay on Hands’d the downed-but-stabilized Cisco and revived him.
Yort Li and Ruasar checked the hag’s corpse. All that’s left were tattered rags that decayed before their eyes.
Elijah J. Lucas investigated — this appeared to be Alric’s study, mirror of Serenna’s study across the hall.
Region map showed a pulsing dot — assumed to be our location.
The blood rune again
Elijah and Ruasar checked the rune — power clearly gone and dissipating. Ruasar touched the wisps of smoke, felt it was wrong and that something was trying to push through him. Held his hand there and saw two visions before breaking off:
- Numerous deals being made.
- A sense of belonging — sensed the hags.
Elijah ran back to the vision table in the other room — same red glow from the rune.
Called Ruasar — clear the power hadn’t waned.
Ruasar reached for the bowl with Mage Hand — magical barrier prevented entry. Gave Elijah J. Lucas his dagger just in case, and reached for the bowl with his physical hand.
- Felt resistance crossing the threshold of the everlit red candles.
- As he grabbed the bowl, blood from the table defied gravity and ran up the side of the bowl, over his hands (icy), and pooled inside.
- Tilted the bowl toward himself. Looked at a painting to capture their visage. Their eyes locked with him. Looked back at the bowl.
- Inside the blood was a reflection of the painting man.
- Ruasar asked if they had any memories to share. Painting man showed a vision of pouring his blood into the bowl.
- Ruasar pinched himself for small pain and asked again. No response.
- Elijah J. Lucas checked in. Ruasar set down the bowl.
Called in Lorien Painbearer for Alric’s thoughts — feelings of regret and shame as Serenna dropped blood and spoke an unknown language.
Intermission — squelching enemies
Cisco and Yort Li walked down the hallway, wondering about the wet squelching enemies they heard earlier. Smelled putrid rotting flesh and the sound of many buzzing flies.
Cisco sneaked (badly) to the edge of the balcony — saw a massive human foot extending out from the hidden stairwell.
Cisco relayed to Yort Li, who attempted stealth (badly but better) around the corner — saw the rest: massive humanoid stuck in the stairwell, trying to squeeze through. Rotting heavily. Huge creature.
(We don’t kill it this session. It’s just hanging out.)
Closing the rune
Lorien Painbearer and Elijah J. Lucas blew out the 6 candles (Lorien only managed 1).
Blood in the bowl drained. Blood in the table grain formed into a crimson eye. Looked at Lorien and Elijah, then disappeared along with the bowl and candles.
The table looked completely normal. The paintings reverted to joyous states.
Ruasar traced and copied the old rune into his notebook. As soon as it was complete, the ink changed to blood and the book shut and sealed itself.
Elijah J. Lucas interrogated Ruasar about the book. Unconvinced about its safety.
Looting
Cisco looted behind Alric’s desk:
- Wooden toys with the initials SA.
- A grimoire wrapped in chains.
Lorien suspected he recognized the grimoire. Cisco cast Suggestion on Lorien to ask Alric about hidden money — failed; Lorien forgave him.
Lorien did find a false bottom in the foot locker and made Cisco promise to use it for good. Cisco found a ton of gold.
Lorien took the grimoire — felt inherently heretical, that he should burn it. Packed it away for later.
Hans said the word “taint” and everyone laughed.
Triumphant return
We left this fucking hellhole. Walked toward town — heard church bells, cheers, flowers thrown toward us.
Dear Li rushed Yort Li for a hug. Yort Li accepted. Dear Li whispered thanks. Yort Li asked about the shack. Dear Li started to sweat.
Ruasar investigated the main tree and tidied it up.
Cisco stayed for adoration. Lyle noticeably absent. Sneaked away and took out half of the gold for himself.
Everyone met up at the Empty Net. Party in full swing.