Session 28: A Chat With Xor'chylic
General Summary
The party recovers at the inn and meets for lunch. Toox updates the party on her discoveries (see Toox's Night), and Feldspar Merrlin wanders in smelling as though he slept in a ditch (he did). After a brief altercation with the server, Feldspar thanks the party for their help. Simon Twoorb buys everyone lunch, and seems to have earned the respect of the staff last night. Celosia Senho spends an inordinate amount of time cleaning and healing the party from a variety of ailments, though all were self-inflicted. Celosia also take the opportunity to review the letter given to her by the Znir Pact after the fight last night. It officially recognizes the party as friends to the country of Drooam, and instructs others to treat them as welcome guests.
The party then goes outside to deal with the prisoner from last night. The Znir Pact guards guarding the wagon roughly force a goodberry into him, and Feldspar assists in helping the party question the prisoner using a wand that he eventually uses to cast a modified Zone of Truth. The prisoner is somewhat dazed, which is not common, but had very little fight against the spell.
Here are the results of the questioning:
The prisoner's name is Matthew. He is 23 years old and joined the Purists about 3 months ago. He is a native of Beland, fighting in the 101st Infantry Unit during the war. It seems he has lived a mostly rural life, and is unfamiliar with Sharn. It appears his community was taken over by Droaam when it broke away from Breland, and he parroted the common themes of monsters displacing humans, elves, etc. in employment, housing, and opportunities.
Matthew was recruited to join the Purists and served in a faction of 128, mostly from his own community. At a certain point they were gathered in a large room where they had a large meal, and there he committed himself to the cause. While he does have the Symbol carved onto his skin, he is among the few that do. The leader of his faction- who was killed in the fighting the night previous- was the highest authority he met. He does maintain that worship is done in acts of service- acts spelled out by the leader. There doesn't seem to be a chain of command now that the leader is gone, though.
Matthew also shared that Rossys Fernmouse, while not a Purist, was a sympathizer, and gave them the respect that they deserved. He further confirmed that the mark was performed with a special dagger with a red stone built into the hilt.
Following the questioning the party decides to leave the prisoner for Xor'chylic. Hurda arrives shortly after, acknowledging their hard work, and having everyone report to The Throne for their meeting with Xor'chylic. She examines the Edhellen as they prepare to get underway, going so far as to displace Celosia to ride up front with Tarryn Rowntree. She seems extremely interested in how the wagon operates.
Upon arriving at The Throne, the party (and Feldspar) are instructed to leave any and all weapons on the Edhellen. They comply, and discover Ninarin is waiting a the Throne as well. She asks Simon to store her items, and he does so happily. Very happily.
The party are shown to a boardroom (1 of 3), and are given almost enough cups with a pitcher of water. One by one they visit Xor'chylic, who sees them in his personal chamber. He asks each person the same questions, though they have been modified since the Pursits have been defeated. The first is "Do you plan to cause harm to Droaam, The Great Crag, Graywall, or The Daughters of Sora Kell"? The second, and new, question was "Do you have any allegiance with the Dragonmark Houses"? The party all answer honestly, and meet in the second boardroom afterward where there is now too many cups of water. The party does well, overall, though only Ice and Ripper are happy about it. Ice because Xor'chylic did not feel it necessary to probe his mind, and Ripper because Ripper pledged loyalty to Xor'chylic immediately.
Hult, on the other hand, is asked by Xor'chylic and Hurda to join the party. He is tasked with protecting them, and reporting back when asked. In exchange Xor'chylic will assist Hult in locating the soldiers who murdered his companions. He is also not to stay for the next round of questions.
From there, the party is shown to a room set up more like a classroom. Hurda first tells the party The Edhellen (and, by extension, the party) are all now returned to their former owners. She further explains the initial interviews were done with extreme care, in light of their service against the Purists. This, however, is viewed as insulting by most monster races. So Xor'chylic is also offering to answer any questions the party has to the best of his ability, but without attempting to "soften" his communication. This will undoubtedly result in significant pain and suffering, but everyone is free to leave any time they wish. Feldspar, Ninarin, Hult, and Tarryn leave immediately. Feldspar decides to call Xor'chylic "Xor", a teasing nickname, and is telepathically beaten against walls on his way out. No one heals him.
Here are the questions asked and the answers given:
How many humans have communicated mentally with an Illithid? None
Why was there the switch from the Great Crag with the Dragonmark Houses regarding trade? Why be so difficult after the Daughters were begging for so long? The Daughters of Sora Kell were not begging to work with the Houses, they were baiting the Houses.
Who is the demon pretending to be a god? Not certain, but he believes the demon is not from this world.
How does the mark cult recruit? Conversion is performed using hate and fools.
How many members do the Purists have? More than 700 and less than 1000
(Simon leaves now)
What sort of danger is Sharn in? There is so much.
What sort of danger is Sharn in from the Demon? We are not sure, but we know that the demon is there.
Where should we go to stop this Demon? Sharn, but you cannot go there yet.
Is there a way to neutralize the mark? We believe that cutting the mark will disrupt the control.
(Toox leaves now)
How does the demon compare to the demons that the Heroes of Ghaash'Kala defeated? Demon arrived in Cyre- now the Mournlands. Those demons came through a rip in the fabric of reality. The demon in Sharn came in through the same rip. Was briefly located in the north before moving to Sharn. Fascinating to see a demon that is more of a planner than one that wreaks havoc. Other realms have demons that behave in a more controlled manner.
(Ice and Celosia pass out)
Ripper, who is now the only one left, asks: Will you fund my work? Xor'chylic laughs and calls his work sloppy, but promising. He tells him that, should he succeed here, Xor'chylic will include him in what is to come.
(Ripper is now unconscious, and briefly dies)
Toox, still being upright, tries desperately to heal Celosia with Hult's assistance. Finally, a healer comes in to stabilize everyone. The party is taken to an inn located in The Throne, and used by diplomats and the like, to recover. Feldspar chooses to join them, seeing as the room and board is being paid for by Xor'chylic.
The party has lost multiple CON points and taken several levels of exhaustion. They will spend approximately a week recovering.
The party then goes outside to deal with the prisoner from last night. The Znir Pact guards guarding the wagon roughly force a goodberry into him, and Feldspar assists in helping the party question the prisoner using a wand that he eventually uses to cast a modified Zone of Truth. The prisoner is somewhat dazed, which is not common, but had very little fight against the spell.
Here are the results of the questioning:
The prisoner's name is Matthew. He is 23 years old and joined the Purists about 3 months ago. He is a native of Beland, fighting in the 101st Infantry Unit during the war. It seems he has lived a mostly rural life, and is unfamiliar with Sharn. It appears his community was taken over by Droaam when it broke away from Breland, and he parroted the common themes of monsters displacing humans, elves, etc. in employment, housing, and opportunities.
Matthew was recruited to join the Purists and served in a faction of 128, mostly from his own community. At a certain point they were gathered in a large room where they had a large meal, and there he committed himself to the cause. While he does have the Symbol carved onto his skin, he is among the few that do. The leader of his faction- who was killed in the fighting the night previous- was the highest authority he met. He does maintain that worship is done in acts of service- acts spelled out by the leader. There doesn't seem to be a chain of command now that the leader is gone, though.
Matthew also shared that Rossys Fernmouse, while not a Purist, was a sympathizer, and gave them the respect that they deserved. He further confirmed that the mark was performed with a special dagger with a red stone built into the hilt.
Following the questioning the party decides to leave the prisoner for Xor'chylic. Hurda arrives shortly after, acknowledging their hard work, and having everyone report to The Throne for their meeting with Xor'chylic. She examines the Edhellen as they prepare to get underway, going so far as to displace Celosia to ride up front with Tarryn Rowntree. She seems extremely interested in how the wagon operates.
Upon arriving at The Throne, the party (and Feldspar) are instructed to leave any and all weapons on the Edhellen. They comply, and discover Ninarin is waiting a the Throne as well. She asks Simon to store her items, and he does so happily. Very happily.
The party are shown to a boardroom (1 of 3), and are given almost enough cups with a pitcher of water. One by one they visit Xor'chylic, who sees them in his personal chamber. He asks each person the same questions, though they have been modified since the Pursits have been defeated. The first is "Do you plan to cause harm to Droaam, The Great Crag, Graywall, or The Daughters of Sora Kell"? The second, and new, question was "Do you have any allegiance with the Dragonmark Houses"? The party all answer honestly, and meet in the second boardroom afterward where there is now too many cups of water. The party does well, overall, though only Ice and Ripper are happy about it. Ice because Xor'chylic did not feel it necessary to probe his mind, and Ripper because Ripper pledged loyalty to Xor'chylic immediately.
Hult, on the other hand, is asked by Xor'chylic and Hurda to join the party. He is tasked with protecting them, and reporting back when asked. In exchange Xor'chylic will assist Hult in locating the soldiers who murdered his companions. He is also not to stay for the next round of questions.
From there, the party is shown to a room set up more like a classroom. Hurda first tells the party The Edhellen (and, by extension, the party) are all now returned to their former owners. She further explains the initial interviews were done with extreme care, in light of their service against the Purists. This, however, is viewed as insulting by most monster races. So Xor'chylic is also offering to answer any questions the party has to the best of his ability, but without attempting to "soften" his communication. This will undoubtedly result in significant pain and suffering, but everyone is free to leave any time they wish. Feldspar, Ninarin, Hult, and Tarryn leave immediately. Feldspar decides to call Xor'chylic "Xor", a teasing nickname, and is telepathically beaten against walls on his way out. No one heals him.
Here are the questions asked and the answers given:
How many humans have communicated mentally with an Illithid? None
Why was there the switch from the Great Crag with the Dragonmark Houses regarding trade? Why be so difficult after the Daughters were begging for so long? The Daughters of Sora Kell were not begging to work with the Houses, they were baiting the Houses.
Who is the demon pretending to be a god? Not certain, but he believes the demon is not from this world.
How does the mark cult recruit? Conversion is performed using hate and fools.
How many members do the Purists have? More than 700 and less than 1000
(Simon leaves now)
What sort of danger is Sharn in? There is so much.
What sort of danger is Sharn in from the Demon? We are not sure, but we know that the demon is there.
Where should we go to stop this Demon? Sharn, but you cannot go there yet.
Is there a way to neutralize the mark? We believe that cutting the mark will disrupt the control.
(Toox leaves now)
How does the demon compare to the demons that the Heroes of Ghaash'Kala defeated? Demon arrived in Cyre- now the Mournlands. Those demons came through a rip in the fabric of reality. The demon in Sharn came in through the same rip. Was briefly located in the north before moving to Sharn. Fascinating to see a demon that is more of a planner than one that wreaks havoc. Other realms have demons that behave in a more controlled manner.
(Ice and Celosia pass out)
Ripper, who is now the only one left, asks: Will you fund my work? Xor'chylic laughs and calls his work sloppy, but promising. He tells him that, should he succeed here, Xor'chylic will include him in what is to come.
(Ripper is now unconscious, and briefly dies)
Toox, still being upright, tries desperately to heal Celosia with Hult's assistance. Finally, a healer comes in to stabilize everyone. The party is taken to an inn located in The Throne, and used by diplomats and the like, to recover. Feldspar chooses to join them, seeing as the room and board is being paid for by Xor'chylic.
The party has lost multiple CON points and taken several levels of exhaustion. They will spend approximately a week recovering.
Report Date
08 Jun 2021
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