Session 60: A Witch's Invitation Report
General Summary
As the dome dissipated, and the group looked around the area, they saw hundreds, perhaps thousands, of dead bodies; all kinds of creatures, all about the area for hundreds of feet in every direction. [Roy ] heard the voice of Cereniya in his mind "I hope you rested well. There were so many creatures last night that would have disturbed your rest.", and again, "I, and my servants, saw to it that you were not disturbed in the slightest.", yet again, "I look forward to meeting you all, well rested and at your best.", finally, "Head right in at the base of the shard, I am waiting at the peak on my ritual platform."
Looking around at the massive array of corpses, and noting that the manner of death varied considerably, Jeeves chose to activate his "Healer's Sight" and saw a vast horde of confused and shocked spirits in the ethereal, as well as a scrying sensor. After some mild disagreement with the remote voice of Cereniya around how that being chose to keep their rest "undisturbed", the group gathered themselves and began the treck toward the crystal spire in the distance. As the party reached the road leading up the hill upon which the spire rested, a group of skeletons arose from the earth of the road and formed up ranks around the party. Cereniya messaged Roy that this was merely an honour guard, as befitted a Princess. Thus escorted, the party proceeded along the road up to the base of the tower, where the skeletons simply collapsed back into the earth. Examining the spire, Jeeves placed a hand on what appeared to be a smaller defensive shard, one of several surrounding the base of the spire. Jeeves discovered that the nature of the spire did not mix well with his magical gloves, as he was blasted backward about forty feet. Once Jeeves got up off of Boris, where he landed, the group regrouped a bit and made their way into the base of the spire.
Entering the spire, the group encountered servants who immediately bowed their heads and knelt as they approached. The group, unused to the concept of palace servants, wondered about the servants for a bit as Roisin Marshfield proceeded further up. Arriving on a platform apparently intended for visitors to wash away any dirt or dust from their travels. Roisin Marshfield chose to avail herself of this service; but Roy , ever impatient, stepped over a servant who had knelt to guard the lady's privacy, and was promptly chastised for churlish behavior by Cereniya and teleported a short distance back as a mild rebuke. Taking this personally and with greatly wounded pride, Roy simply turned and walked back downstairs with intent to discard this audience. Roisin Marshfield experienced a magically enhanced bathing environment, including a highly efficient air dry. Roisin Marshfield, on concluding her bath went back downstairs to persuade Roy to come with the party, rather than simply remain at the bottom where he could not assist the group.
Now refreshed, the group continued up the stairs, through the third level, and on to the fourth, where they saw a musician playing a tune on an outdoor platform. Passing a doorway on this level, Roisin Marshfield was surprised by a sudden movement caused by a horrific creature that leapt out and attempted to claw the princess. Reacting quickly, the princess stabbed the creature and moved away, deftly dodging its claws. Roy prepared to lock the creature in a time ripple. Cigfran moved for a better angle, dashing nimbly past the group, and shot the horror with a magical crossbow bolt. Another of the gaunt creatures rushed out to meet Cigfran . Boris strode forward and threw his hammer at the creature, bashing it in the leg, then moved closer and stood next to the first creature, allowing it to remain within its cover. Yet another of these creatures rushed out of the other rooms in the tower as the first one swung at Boris, grasping the halfling in a powerful claw, then attempting to tear out his heart, failing due to Boris armor. Jeeves conjured a rapier to his hand, then moved in and stabbed the first creature. Jeeves attempted to move away, but was also clamped in a powerful claw, preventing him from getting away. Roisin Marshfield ordered Roy to attack, and Roy struck one of the two flanking Cigfran , as Boris tried to strike, but missed. Roy conjured a ball of lightning, which shocked one of the creatures, but also seemed to speed it up, causing it to swing at Cigfran and miss. Cigfran tried to move back, but was struck powerfully by a claw, preventing escape. The creature then tore open Cigfran 's chest, attempting to extract his heart, but Cigfran managed to dodge the worst of the blow. Boris summoned a spiritual weapon, and also tried to strike, but missed with both. The gaunt creature attacked Roisin Marshfield, but missed, as another tried to tear Jeeves ' heart out, but Jeeves managed to avoid the blow. Jeeves then stabbed the creature in the head, killing it as the tower absorbed the body and turned blood red momentarily. Roy then fired eldritch blasts at another enemy, but accidentally struck Jeeves in the back with one blast, even as the other slammed into the gaunt creature. Roy then rammed the lightning ball into the same creature, but it dodged most of the harm, even while it used the energy to turn and claw Cigfran again. Cigfran then wriggled free of the claws, looked at the others, shrugged, and jumped off the edge of this crystal platform, falling to the level below. Roy reacted with magic enabling Cigfran to fall softly, like a feather, preventing further harm. The creature turned, ripped the heart out of a nearby servant, and consumed it, then turned to Jeeves and clawed him as well, before surging with electric energy to try to tear out Jeeves ' heart, missing by a hair. Boris moved his spiritual hammer to attack the creature grappling Jeeves , then threw his hammer with magical enhancement that caused it to strike twice; striking glancing blows with both passes and moving between Roisin Marshfield and the other creature. Jeeves stabbed at the creature grappling him, poking neat little holes in it's twisted form and consumed a healing herb to recover a bit of strength. Roisin Marshfield ordered Roy to attack, and the wizard blasted the creature grappling Jeeves , leaving it very weak. Boris swung a coordinated attack, striking a glancing blow against the creature before him. Roy launched an ice lance and struck Jeeves , killing him; but time rewound slightly and he struck the intended target instead; blasting it full in the chest with a massive magical impact that stunned the creature and nearly killed it. Cigfran then turned and, surprising everyone, fired a crossbow bolt into the chest of the bard who was coming in the door and nobody else had noticed the singer casting a spell. The bolt struck the bard powerfully, knocking him back off the ledge where that individual fell to a painful death. The creature in front of Boris tried to extract the halfling's heart, but failed, and Boris then smashed the creature before him with two strikes, killing it, even as his spiritual hammer smashed in the skull of the one grappling Jeeves .
As the final opponent fell, the area was suddenly bathed in red light as a voice came through explaining that the area had been hidden and locked out for a moment and asking if they needed help. This voice, Cereniya, seemed quite shocked, concerned, and sincerely worried after the party's health. Roisin Marshfield assured Cereniya that they were OK, as Jeeves moved about healing the party members as best he could. Proceeding up the tower, including a brief jaunt up a shaft with magical levitation to lift them two levels. Finally arriving on the platform at the very top, they saw, at last, Cereniya.
Roisin Marshfield asked after the origin of the tower, and Cereniya explained it was sent, a gift from "The Worm That Walks", further explaining that this being would consume their souls. Roisin Marshfield asserted their souls would not be so easily consumed, but Cereniya explained that was the destination of all things; expressing hope that her own service to TWTW would earn her the "privilege" to be so consumed. Jeeves asked what service, and Cereniya explained she was a servant, granted magical power in order to rule the lands and prepare them for the arrival of "The Worm That Walks"; showing them an image of a being that appeared humanoid and cloaked, with small worms falling out of every darkened opening. Jeeves asked how this happened; and Cereniy explained that she found "The Shard" long ago, and unlike others listened and learened. She pleased The Worm, so it gave her a bit of the worm of her own, that she might grow in knowledge and service. Then it began to grant power and understanding. One day she saw an image of a great and glorious crystal falling from the sky, and she warned the town. She and most left the area, and two days later this massive crystal slammed into the ground and devestated the valley. She led the townsfolk back, and led them in rebuilding that they might "Grow ever closer to the mind, spirit, and intent of The Work That Walks". She asserted the party were greater servants granted her as associates to spread the "Glory of The Worm That Walks" beyond the local region and expand its influence over distant lands. Boris interrupted to ask "Are you aware of all the slavery and corruption in the town below?" The woman replied "Of course, isn't it wonderful? They are doing so well in learning how to serve The Worm. I think some of them may be ready to take the worm soon." As she spoke Boris noticed a worm, perhaps 3cm across peek out of her mouth and retreat; even as he realized she had no tongue. She said "You, however, The Worm tells me that you are ready to take the worm now." She turned to the throne behind her, and turned back holding five 80cm long and 2-3cm diameter disgustingly slimy white albino worms and said "Come forth, take your worm, accept the great blessings of The Worm That Walks and become greater than any you have ever known!".
