Haunting of Blackrot Session 30

Settling Down for Disputes

General Summary

Name	Class
Abbott	Warlock
Clovis	Fighter/Sorcerer
Henrietta	Blood Hunter
Yohgrï	Cleric

Mournival: The Ruinous Pact

Dim lights illuminate the stage so we only see the silhouettes of four peculiar characters and a fifth atop a prop tower.

The lights flash on to the two directors flanking the stage. The Critic looks over to the audience, “The villains of this Ruinous Pact have already won. The city is theirs to rule.”

Sage: “Let’s not be so hasty. Our new heroes could always prove us wrong. They have yet to fully meet Kelistra’s play things.”

Everyone looks to the stage as the first light shines on a blether with a reflective mask and draped in unusual clothing.

The Critic: Leuklen of Ilkrichyurl. Did he really think killing his maker would mean having unbounded knowledge? I see nothing but madness and power floating aimlessly around the city.

Sage: He may have changed ever since becoming a Despoiler but all it takes is a bit of silence and peace of mind to probably ground the blether back to reality.

The lights flash to a blue tiefling with grand wings in an elegant gray attire.

The Critic: “Mirmeia of Balgromok. Vanity has inflated such a delicate ego, follower of demons. What measure of tears suffice to please you? What volume of blood will make you content?”

The Sage: “These types are my favorite! All it takes is to take away their material possessions and watch how far they sink in the social hierarchy if not the soil.

The lights flash to a conniving man in a dark green mantle and noble clothing. His eyes glare at the audience.

The Critic: “Rasmus of Valg. There is nothing unique about your story. A tale as old as time of a desperate man trying to escape death through the irony of undeath. At least now your body is not failing as much as it did in life.”

The Sage: “Perhaps what could even shock him back to life is the cost of looking mostly alive. If only he had known what had to be given up.”

The lights flash to the familiar Tenerian, the pale elf with red facial markings.

The Critic: “Tenerian of nobody. Perhaps the most likable out of this heap of quacks. You are in the most sought-after position but that heart of yours could care less. That’s why she fancies you.”

The Sage: “Nothing works up our Herald of Ruin more than something she craves but is just out of reach. If only there were different options to take to live a quieter life.”

The lights then flash at the top, showing a pale woman devoid of any colors, only gradients of black and white.

The Critic: “Kellistra, our Herald of Ruin! No one could be more deserving of being in these Dread Domains than you! Why, your ability to turn your Despoilers into monsters is to be despised and even having the audacity to try turning on them in your moment of triumph is truly loathsome of you.”

The Sage: “No one is more deserving of being the Herald of Ruin than you! Why, you even ruined the lives of your underlings, the city, and most of all, yourself! We could not provide a warmer welcome to you.”

The lights all then flick off, then back on to show the Directors on the stage, “That is all for today’s showing. Come again another time.”

After Show Ramblings

Sage: “You know? I think I’ll miss these actors quite a lot when the time comes to pass.”

Critic: “Always the sentimental one, you are. Do not fear, friend, for remember the arrangements.”

Sage: “Of course! Should things go accordingly, not only will our protagonists prevail, but also deny that loathsome Host the chance of hollowing another victim.”

Critic: “But the cost means losing a great deal of our cast as a whole. It pains me as much as you but I loathe that abomination more for doing a greater deal of harm to our ensemble.”

Sage: “That’s why I cheer for our… heroes? No, that still doesn’t sound right. Either way, just think of what we could do once beyond the Mists!”

Critic: “Do not get too excited. The material worlds we will see may be no different to the Dread Domains. The only difference is that we are at the mercy of reality than our writers’ torments.”

Settling Down

On returning to camp, the party finds the Thomter Twins in tears. They were really horrified by the experience walking out of Lumencroft it all felt like the real carnage that could have come for their home. They also reveal that the Lumencroft they know of back in Arturias is in a ruined state because of Bertram's madness rather than the utopian nightmare that it was.

Seeking insight with Karnell, Yohgrï was told by him that he found the planar powers that be should be seen more as guides. For if there is only the material world, we mortals are nothing. These powers provide a purpose and embracing them in one grand harmony would mean strength in a lot of ways. For Sullus' failing is he has a hyper-focus on Haven's contributions.

Abbott and Setesk

Setesk was shaking with tremors and when Abbott put a hand on his shoulder, they both saw a vision of the sinister Reaving taunting Setesk about dropping by to see how the banishment is going. After that, Setesk was fine and shook it off.

Clovis and Henrietta

Clovis and Henri discussed Clovis' time in the mists, bringing up how Timmy was always a dedicated fanboy to the Fevre family, namely to Antonin. She also found out that whatever that umbral hulk had done to Clovis, it made him able to manipulate shadow magic further.

Yohgrï was itching to practice transmutation magic via the @Arcanum Infinitum but failed trying to do incredulously difficult material, permanently changing his appearance akin to an amphibious dragon. Henri used the opportunity to snatch away the book back into her position.

The group reconvened and inquired with Abbott about how there needs to be no more secrecy with everyone. Despite Abbott insisting he has already informed the group that he knows what they know, Clovis put forward a Zone of Truth spell to ensure it was the case.

Report Date

30 Oct 2023