Session 025: Return to the Well
General Summary
We begin as North Wind, along with Konane and Saeng, approaches the Well of the Wavekeeper and the bodies that lie around it. There’s a flicker of hope that maybe they aren’t dead, but it fades quickly.
They note that the bodies have been arranged in two large circles around the iron fence. They’ve been covered in gray fabric and bound with rope. Further investigation finds that there’s extremely strong abjuration magic on the unbroken outer ring and traces of conjuration magic inside the fence. Past the gate, they find that more bodies have been arranged to form a strange symbol.
They uncover a brick buried at the top of the symbol, all too familiar to Zenith as he unearths it. What is not familiar, however, is the symbol carved into it, which the group can tell corresponds to the symbol drawn with the dead. They see that a single body is out of place and quickly decide not to move it.
Zenith casts Identify and learns that peculiar magic is holding the brick in this plane.
Aphid connects the symbol to a shield that used to be in a museum in the Spring Kingdom, connected to the Grays. Talasea remembers a bit of information about the secretive organization that is whispered to be pulling the strings of history.
Then Zenith inspects the Well and finds planar residue.
Things shift. Zenith and Talasea are eager to move the body into place to complete the symbol. The group hesitantly agrees. Zenith pauses to ask if there’s any kind of safety rope to come back from wherever they might end up. Saeng says there is no way to know until they’re on the other side. But probably not.
They decide to quickly cast Sending to Verity and Temperance. Verity reports that they ran into another person. Temperance tells Tal to be safe.
Saeng casts Death Ward on Zenith in a totally not foreshadowy way. They have a group hug. They prepare some actions. They push the body into place.
It is completely silent as a fissure opens in reality.
They see a tossing ocean, an inky body of stars, underneath a black sky. No light is reflected as a head breaches the surface of whatever strange water tosess in this place. They watch as a dragon crawls out of the deep and through the crack and into their reality.
The fight that ensues is harrowing. Zenith goes unconscious twice, Talasea once, Mohr once. But they make it through. They survive. Zenith deals the final blow and the dragon goes down, spitting words they cannot understand.
The crew takes some teeth and claws from the dragon, discuss the merits of skinning the thing for its hide. Then discuss the possibility of opening the rift again. Zenith and Tal are convinced to message their people before reopening the rift. Zenith messages Verity, who says that he hasn't seen anything since they last talked. Tal decides his crew. Aphid is very vocal about not approving of opening the rift again, which causes a bit of tension but ends in a hug. They ultimately decide to go take a rest at Narwhada.
At Narwhada, they enter the tavern where Inoke the Tavernkeeper is tending the bar. They get drinks, shocked and quiet. Konane and Jack head up to the bar to inform Inoke of the bodies. In doing so, they mention the Well. Inoke is confused, not knowing what they're referring to, going in circles as they try to explain. Konane steps in and offers to take her there, which Inoke accepts. Jack tests a mention of the Well to another townsperson who is likewise confused.
Back at the table, Saeng gently suggests that there's been a lot. And maybe it would be best to do a bit more at the Well, then head back to Halitara, get some rest, and reconvene later to go over what they know. The group accepts. They spend the rest of their short rest watching as word begins to spread through the town of the fate of their missing loved ones. And try not to think of their own…
They note that the bodies have been arranged in two large circles around the iron fence. They’ve been covered in gray fabric and bound with rope. Further investigation finds that there’s extremely strong abjuration magic on the unbroken outer ring and traces of conjuration magic inside the fence. Past the gate, they find that more bodies have been arranged to form a strange symbol.
They uncover a brick buried at the top of the symbol, all too familiar to Zenith as he unearths it. What is not familiar, however, is the symbol carved into it, which the group can tell corresponds to the symbol drawn with the dead. They see that a single body is out of place and quickly decide not to move it.
Zenith casts Identify and learns that peculiar magic is holding the brick in this plane.
Aphid connects the symbol to a shield that used to be in a museum in the Spring Kingdom, connected to the Grays. Talasea remembers a bit of information about the secretive organization that is whispered to be pulling the strings of history.
Then Zenith inspects the Well and finds planar residue.
Things shift. Zenith and Talasea are eager to move the body into place to complete the symbol. The group hesitantly agrees. Zenith pauses to ask if there’s any kind of safety rope to come back from wherever they might end up. Saeng says there is no way to know until they’re on the other side. But probably not.
They decide to quickly cast Sending to Verity and Temperance. Verity reports that they ran into another person. Temperance tells Tal to be safe.
Saeng casts Death Ward on Zenith in a totally not foreshadowy way. They have a group hug. They prepare some actions. They push the body into place.
It is completely silent as a fissure opens in reality.
They see a tossing ocean, an inky body of stars, underneath a black sky. No light is reflected as a head breaches the surface of whatever strange water tosess in this place. They watch as a dragon crawls out of the deep and through the crack and into their reality.
The fight that ensues is harrowing. Zenith goes unconscious twice, Talasea once, Mohr once. But they make it through. They survive. Zenith deals the final blow and the dragon goes down, spitting words they cannot understand.
The crew takes some teeth and claws from the dragon, discuss the merits of skinning the thing for its hide. Then discuss the possibility of opening the rift again. Zenith and Tal are convinced to message their people before reopening the rift. Zenith messages Verity, who says that he hasn't seen anything since they last talked. Tal decides his crew. Aphid is very vocal about not approving of opening the rift again, which causes a bit of tension but ends in a hug. They ultimately decide to go take a rest at Narwhada.
At Narwhada, they enter the tavern where Inoke the Tavernkeeper is tending the bar. They get drinks, shocked and quiet. Konane and Jack head up to the bar to inform Inoke of the bodies. In doing so, they mention the Well. Inoke is confused, not knowing what they're referring to, going in circles as they try to explain. Konane steps in and offers to take her there, which Inoke accepts. Jack tests a mention of the Well to another townsperson who is likewise confused.
Back at the table, Saeng gently suggests that there's been a lot. And maybe it would be best to do a bit more at the Well, then head back to Halitara, get some rest, and reconvene later to go over what they know. The group accepts. They spend the rest of their short rest watching as word begins to spread through the town of the fate of their missing loved ones. And try not to think of their own…
Report Date
04 Feb 2022
Primary Location
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