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Harmony Session 11: We're Never As Lost Or As Found As We Think We Are

General Summary

We last left our heroes finding a bit of respite in the decaying remains of a sema nest discussing what to do next. Understanding that they had no real idea where they were, they once again took a dip in the underground river, hoping that it would at least lead them back to the Heart of Swango Swamp.   Thankfully, it did, but what the adventurers emerged into was not what they had left. The Heart was getting worse, the corruption more pronouced. No phytozombies rose to challenge them, no vines grasped at their ankles. Things were looking grim.  

Prognosis: Negative

  Enoch examined the area and determined that the Heart was dying despite their efforts to destroy the sema. Whatever damage the creatures had done was done and no amount of Lady Blight's vengeance would undo that. Her crusade against the sema could certainly limit future damage, but it was no avenue for salvation. They needed a cure.   That is, if they wanted to heal the Heart at all. They could just leave it to die or even put it out of its misery. After some summary of the situation and encouragement towards benevolence from Gorr, they decided to give healing another go. The party set their sights on finding the white flowers from Gorr's visions and return balance to the Swamp. Some time ago, Lord Vine had hidden the last seedling of the white flowers where the mountains met the swamp, in a clearing guarded by two great swangrove trees. Newly determined, our heroes climbed up the crumbling pillars and through the holey membrane to the surface.   Once up top, they saw that the Heart was not doing well. Rot and bile leaked from its laboriously pumping chambers. Hopefully these white flowers were the miracle the Heart so desperately needed.   The adventurers spotted the distant ridges that guarded Vardura's western shore and used them to guide their travel and search for the clearing.  

He Who Hunts The Hunter Hunts Himself

  The next few days of travel across the swamp were relatively uneventful, but the howling mosshounds sent by Lord Vine were quite annoying. Thankfully, the party was able to identify where they were in Swango Swamp, especially when they found the flail snail lair they had left via the underground river just a few days ago. Soon though, they came to where the swamp met the mountains and began their slow search up the western edge of the continent.   During their search for the grove, the explorers found a number of interesting items. Pilgrim placed a bolt at some intact and insightful Varduran architecture. Malachai found a sema corpse and Enoch discovered two of the creatures digging in a soft patch of dirt. After ambushing the two, our heroes realized the sema were digging into the underground tunnels to likely set up a new nest. When Zoran found a spot to camp, he also heard the shuffling of loud, wet footsteps off in the growing darkness. He gave a Pantoptic Legion call, but there was no response. The footsteps receded and the party could find no trace of what creature came through; Gorr could only say it was something that "walks with the swamp."   With that, the party bed down for the night and prepared to continue their search in the morning.

Rewards Granted

  • Malachai collected some subterranean mushrooms, which Zoran reminded him were dangerous.

Created Content

During their travels, our heroes discussed how they may have heard of each other:  
  • Azarki proudly discussed his Kevin-Kevin heritage and their contributions to shipping operations around the world.
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  • Pilgrim talked about The Faraway Voice and its mission to rebuild the Alerki Ascendency, but peacefully this time.
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  • Enoch talked about his work on infrastructure and transportation in Sernovia.
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  • Malachai, of the fabled maizegrown, was very eager to travel east and find what brethren remained on Vardura.
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  • Zoran mentioned his monster-slaying work with the Legion, but soon opened up about his lost memory as a king of some unnamed land. No one had any idea of what kingdom he spoke, if it existed at all.
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  • Gorr, overcome with the grief of the Swamp, howled with the mosshounds and squirmed with the slirghs.

Notes

  • This time asked by his fellow adventurers, Zoran attempted to divine the location of the hidden clearing by opening up his flute to "The Evervoice". what they now called the elusive and haunting melody that seem to ride the winds of Vardura. Instead of success, the goliath brought too much uncertainty into his communion and was rebuffed in his efforts. Zoran has decided to try listening a little more before trying to use The Evervoice again.
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  • When Gorr shook Zoran out of his unsteady possession, a memory of discussing the finer points of the Legion's "panoptic" approach to protecting Gavros with The Corvus came unbidden to Zoran. The former king realized that this was a reprimand from The Corvus for nearly revealing her presence. She had apparently sent the message along with The Evervoice, as she had done before. The black feather attached to Zoran's bone flute then disappeared.
Report Date
19 Sep 2024
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