Session 037: Bloomin' 'Ell
General Summary
The North Wind heads back to the Hot™️ Springs Resort and successfully retrieves both their belongings and their mints. On the way out, Liha generously informs them (once bribed) that a pale qu guard had been by asking about them and indicated they would be back later to check in again. Liha generously agrees to inform the guard (once bribed) that the group is heading south.
Safely checked out, the group decides to head straight to the Blooming Caverns in search of Freyre. Jack vaguely recalls that the Blooming Caverns are called such for a number of reasons, including the bioluminescent flora that grows within. Upon poking within, Zenith quickly discovers a scrap of red fabric snagged on some rock, then a patch further on that appears to have been ripped off of similar red fabric. The patch is alarmingly familiar: it is the symbol of the Ringed Roses.
Continuing deeper into the caverns, Talasea catches wind of whispers echoing amongst the stalactites. Zenith sends Vermira to investigate and through her two figures dressed in dark leathers holding a tense conversation.
One of them, a tabaxi we learn in called Hale (she/her), is insisting that they can't leave one of their own behind. The other, wearing a hood and scarf with dark face paint obscuring their features (who we as players know is Lia, they/them), hisses that there is protocol to be considered; if they go in and get killed, then no one will know about the impending disaster.
Eventually, Lia agrees to go on as long as they wait for an opening that is more likely to end in success for them. Lia turns and ducks into a crevice. Hale turns to follow, but first looks up and makes eye contact with Vermira. Zenith immediately vanishes Vermira in an attempt to make the very suspicious individual think they were hallucinating the bright golden cat watching them intently. Before Vermira blinks out, Zenith notes a dagger jammed into the stone above the crevice, pinning another scrap of fabric bearing the torn embroidery of a rose.
The North Wind decides to follow into the crevice. However, things quickly go sideways when Talasea wedges their way inside only to find Lia holding a knife to them, demanding he remain quiet and to know what they did with Hale. Outside the crack, Hale grabs Aphid and puts a knife to their throat and demands to know who they are and what they're doing. Naturally, the group immediately responds with violence. Some attempts are made to get Lia and Hale to stand down, but Hale recognizes the group as being wanted for murder and states that a Qu never surrenders while Lia doesn't take kindly to being insulted on their headbutting technique.
Things occur quickly after that: Lia tells Talasea that unless they're part of the Torn Rose, they need to be quiet or they'll both be dead, then stabs Talasea hard enough he goes unconscious and disappears down the crevice. Hale retreats from Aphid's giant rats, then abandons stealth entirely, loudly expressing confusion over why they're helping the Ringed Roses when they killed one of them. The North Wind make their way through the crevice one by one. On the other side, they find Havo, one of the Ringed Roses, posting up at the entrance to the crevice. A revived Talasea climbs up onto high ground in the new cavern they've entered. They catch sight of Lia tossing aside a bottle as they crouch to remove handcuffs from a prone and battered elvish figure in similar leathers. Talasea also sees two others: Gia, the other remaining member of the Ringed Roses, and Onoana, one of the mysterious trio that defeated the Ringed Roses at the trial. Onoana tries to stop Gia from doing whatever it is that Gia is trying to do; Gia ignores her. Talasea casts a spell that blinds them, but doesn't manage to stop Gia from stepping through a waterfall and out of sight, or Onoana from teleporting via a strange, crackling magic to the side of the waterfall.
We end upon the sight of bright green tendrils poking through the waterfall. First one wriggling tentacle, then another, and another...
And another.
Safely checked out, the group decides to head straight to the Blooming Caverns in search of Freyre. Jack vaguely recalls that the Blooming Caverns are called such for a number of reasons, including the bioluminescent flora that grows within. Upon poking within, Zenith quickly discovers a scrap of red fabric snagged on some rock, then a patch further on that appears to have been ripped off of similar red fabric. The patch is alarmingly familiar: it is the symbol of the Ringed Roses.
Continuing deeper into the caverns, Talasea catches wind of whispers echoing amongst the stalactites. Zenith sends Vermira to investigate and through her two figures dressed in dark leathers holding a tense conversation.
One of them, a tabaxi we learn in called Hale (she/her), is insisting that they can't leave one of their own behind. The other, wearing a hood and scarf with dark face paint obscuring their features (who we as players know is Lia, they/them), hisses that there is protocol to be considered; if they go in and get killed, then no one will know about the impending disaster.
Eventually, Lia agrees to go on as long as they wait for an opening that is more likely to end in success for them. Lia turns and ducks into a crevice. Hale turns to follow, but first looks up and makes eye contact with Vermira. Zenith immediately vanishes Vermira in an attempt to make the very suspicious individual think they were hallucinating the bright golden cat watching them intently. Before Vermira blinks out, Zenith notes a dagger jammed into the stone above the crevice, pinning another scrap of fabric bearing the torn embroidery of a rose.
The North Wind decides to follow into the crevice. However, things quickly go sideways when Talasea wedges their way inside only to find Lia holding a knife to them, demanding he remain quiet and to know what they did with Hale. Outside the crack, Hale grabs Aphid and puts a knife to their throat and demands to know who they are and what they're doing. Naturally, the group immediately responds with violence. Some attempts are made to get Lia and Hale to stand down, but Hale recognizes the group as being wanted for murder and states that a Qu never surrenders while Lia doesn't take kindly to being insulted on their headbutting technique.
Things occur quickly after that: Lia tells Talasea that unless they're part of the Torn Rose, they need to be quiet or they'll both be dead, then stabs Talasea hard enough he goes unconscious and disappears down the crevice. Hale retreats from Aphid's giant rats, then abandons stealth entirely, loudly expressing confusion over why they're helping the Ringed Roses when they killed one of them. The North Wind make their way through the crevice one by one. On the other side, they find Havo, one of the Ringed Roses, posting up at the entrance to the crevice. A revived Talasea climbs up onto high ground in the new cavern they've entered. They catch sight of Lia tossing aside a bottle as they crouch to remove handcuffs from a prone and battered elvish figure in similar leathers. Talasea also sees two others: Gia, the other remaining member of the Ringed Roses, and Onoana, one of the mysterious trio that defeated the Ringed Roses at the trial. Onoana tries to stop Gia from doing whatever it is that Gia is trying to do; Gia ignores her. Talasea casts a spell that blinds them, but doesn't manage to stop Gia from stepping through a waterfall and out of sight, or Onoana from teleporting via a strange, crackling magic to the side of the waterfall.
We end upon the sight of bright green tendrils poking through the waterfall. First one wriggling tentacle, then another, and another...
And another.
Report Date
14 Jan 2023
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