Winedark, Chapter Eight
General Summary
Wherein the Blasters venture deep into a humming and twisting land, experience a black breath, and discover the chains that bind
But it didn't take a magically attuned sorcerer to tell that there's magic and danger here. The entire port felt like walking through an electric cloud, teeth on edge, ready to snap at a moment's notice. Something unpredictable and both beguiling and dangerous in that unpredictability. Anyway, to business: the Vastblasters are here to locate one Grembrek Blaststorm and find out what information he has dug up from the ruins that might be useful to re-forge Instrument, combat the DreadSquid, or hopefully both. To do that, they'll need to head into the Tong Ruins, and to do that, they'll have to get some information about how to do that. Huckle, it seems, is not a very big place, so our heroes rightly assumed that heading to the local inn and tavern--unsettlingly titled The Ruination of Youth--would be a good place to start their expedition. There, they met the barkeep-cum-fixer-cum-mayor Ashford Holaxalim who offered them some sage advice--namely, go home. But, if they insist on heading into the ruins, then they better come correct. Because things happen in there, and anybody who enters comes back changed. Ash wasn't particularly forthcoming about the details of that, but he did mention that the only other docked ship, the Bootle, had what seems like a successful expedition. Our crew took note of that, kinda "okay boomer'ed" Ash, and headed back to the docks. The first mate of the Bootle happened to be a Otuna's Favor superfan and eagerly welcomed them aboard the vessel. Orgen Vertekt, the aforementioned mate, wasn't at liberty to say what, exactly, they got out of the ruins only that it was hard earned by the captain, one Lang "The Bear" Gnash, and crew. He also mentioned that going into the Tong Ruins without a guide is a very bad idea indeed and that Ash could probably point out a few good ones. Pitch awarded him with their autograph for his troubles and the Blasters headed to bed aboard their ship. The next morning it was time to get into the ruins, so it was back to Ash to ask about guides. The sincere half-elf pointed a few out, indicting that a gnome seated in the corner would probably be their best bet. He also mentioned that the half-orc, seated at far table and staring into the middle distance, had been there all night and hadn't moved. Clearly, he had seen Some Things. Kharlo Chondricht and Irk put two-and-two together and determined that this must be the captain of the Bootle, and indeed it was. Irk had some quick thinking to cast a calm emotions spell on the afflicted half-orc and that seemed to do the trick, at least for now. He offered a few motes of advice as he hurried back to his boat--the ruins are a bad place, and there are bad things in there. Be careful! Oh, and he mentioned something about tigers that were also not tigers? Great, dude, thanks. The gnome guide was named Flukestone and agreed to take them DEEP "into the black" in search of Blaststorm, who she knew to be poking around a place called Tullum's Demise. It was called that because, well, Tullum died there. For the princely sum of five gold, she could guide them there but decidedly WILL NOT fight for them. With that agreed, it was time to set out.
Magic AF
After the strange encounter with the elemental, it was relative smooth sailing to Cheltong and to the port of Huckle. After arriving in its environs, it quickly became apparent that this place has Something Going On with it, namely, it is Magic as Fuck. A quick check by Kasula Neristina proved this to be the case, as she informed Captain Pitch that there is something different about the Vastbloom here, something decidedly not like the other species in the The Vast.But it didn't take a magically attuned sorcerer to tell that there's magic and danger here. The entire port felt like walking through an electric cloud, teeth on edge, ready to snap at a moment's notice. Something unpredictable and both beguiling and dangerous in that unpredictability. Anyway, to business: the Vastblasters are here to locate one Grembrek Blaststorm and find out what information he has dug up from the ruins that might be useful to re-forge Instrument, combat the DreadSquid, or hopefully both. To do that, they'll need to head into the Tong Ruins, and to do that, they'll have to get some information about how to do that. Huckle, it seems, is not a very big place, so our heroes rightly assumed that heading to the local inn and tavern--unsettlingly titled The Ruination of Youth--would be a good place to start their expedition. There, they met the barkeep-cum-fixer-cum-mayor Ashford Holaxalim who offered them some sage advice--namely, go home. But, if they insist on heading into the ruins, then they better come correct. Because things happen in there, and anybody who enters comes back changed. Ash wasn't particularly forthcoming about the details of that, but he did mention that the only other docked ship, the Bootle, had what seems like a successful expedition. Our crew took note of that, kinda "okay boomer'ed" Ash, and headed back to the docks. The first mate of the Bootle happened to be a Otuna's Favor superfan and eagerly welcomed them aboard the vessel. Orgen Vertekt, the aforementioned mate, wasn't at liberty to say what, exactly, they got out of the ruins only that it was hard earned by the captain, one Lang "The Bear" Gnash, and crew. He also mentioned that going into the Tong Ruins without a guide is a very bad idea indeed and that Ash could probably point out a few good ones. Pitch awarded him with their autograph for his troubles and the Blasters headed to bed aboard their ship. The next morning it was time to get into the ruins, so it was back to Ash to ask about guides. The sincere half-elf pointed a few out, indicting that a gnome seated in the corner would probably be their best bet. He also mentioned that the half-orc, seated at far table and staring into the middle distance, had been there all night and hadn't moved. Clearly, he had seen Some Things. Kharlo Chondricht and Irk put two-and-two together and determined that this must be the captain of the Bootle, and indeed it was. Irk had some quick thinking to cast a calm emotions spell on the afflicted half-orc and that seemed to do the trick, at least for now. He offered a few motes of advice as he hurried back to his boat--the ruins are a bad place, and there are bad things in there. Be careful! Oh, and he mentioned something about tigers that were also not tigers? Great, dude, thanks. The gnome guide was named Flukestone and agreed to take them DEEP "into the black" in search of Blaststorm, who she knew to be poking around a place called Tullum's Demise. It was called that because, well, Tullum died there. For the princely sum of five gold, she could guide them there but decidedly WILL NOT fight for them. With that agreed, it was time to set out.
Into the Black
The weird magic that suffices this land became apparent soon after leaving the relative security of Huckle, as Flukestone put in a goddamn mouthguard to protect her chompers against the bone-chattering strangeness of this energy. Some of our more unfortunate crew were rewarded with nosebleeds for their troubles. Further, there was a period of time in which every member of the party could recall, whether they wanted to or not, every memory they've ever had in perfect detail. For some, this might have been comforting. For others, decidedly less so. There wasn't much time to linger over the implications of that, as camp needed to be set and watch undertaken. Flukestone volunteered to stay up all night because she doesn't sleep anymore. Just one of those changes that Ash was on about, it seems. In the night, a band of roving gnolls that Flukestone called Fleshrippers descended on the party and offered battle. As if this wasn't enough, Flukestone had just enough time to scream BLACK BREATH before a necrotic storm took the landscape by, well, storm. Luckily, our heroes had purchased special blankets to prepare for this and all but Pitch was able to escape the phenomena unscathed. The gnolls, it appears, were not so lucky, as the flesh was ripped right off their bones and they became skeletons. Oh shit! Well, time to fight some skeletons. And so the Blasters did and they were victorious. Fortunately, Tullum's Demise is only another full day away, which is a good thing, because this place is spooky. On the way there, the bizarre energy of the ruins once again coalesced and gifted each Blaster with one cantrip from the wizard spell list. Holy shit! It appears the ruins have smiled on our adventurers. That smile, however, did not last long, as Flukestone guided the crew to Blaststorm's camp, pointed out that there are at least two strange things waddling around in it, and promptly fucked off for parts unknown. Hey, the deal was to guide you there, not back. Good luck! And luck was needed, as the camp was beset by ogres both wrapped up in and able to make use of deadly chains. The fight was a bloody one, but the Blasters survived. Now, to see what clues this camp offers about Blaststorm.And That's Where We Left It
We'll discover what further horrors the Tong Ruins hold for the Blasters during our next session.Various & Sundry Details
- Kharlo tried his chef hands at making some sushi for Irk. The result is something called Best Friend Sushi Soup and contains quite a few fish bones. Like, all of them. Presumably for added crunch.
- Speaking of Irk, he practiced his harpoon, endeavoring one day to become a noted whaler.
- Kasula, a noted Vastbloom expert, consulted with local Cheltong herbalist Olekkim about the strange mutated Vastbloom found around Huckle. Turns out that, yep, those are mutated and consensus has not yet been reached as to how or why. But, if you use them, strange effects can and do happen. Intriguing!
Character(s) interacted with
- Ashford Holaxalim, proprietor of The Ruination of Youth
- Olekkim, herbalist and Vastbloom grower
- Ivik Karakov, general merchant
- Orgen Vertekt, first mate of the Bootle and Otuna's Favor fan
- Lang "The Bear" Gnash, captain of the Bootle, who has Seen Some Things
- Flukestone, gnome guide who absolutely won't fight for you
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