Session 34 Report

General Summary

Follen 6 Snowdeep 834EA
During the downtime of waiting on armour and weapons to be improved and made, Selestine Ignasia became aware of a ghostly presence hanging around in their periphery. Thinking that it was one of the usual friendly spirits that latch on to them each day, they ignored it until the third day when they realised it had still not left. Selestine realised that they had first noticed the ghost, a wizened old woman of elven descent with long hair and inquisitive eyes, after passing the temple (that Pōtiki had gone into) on their way to the Taesai Academy after going with Jodariel Balakin to the Temple of Unnia. Selestine noticed that they could only see the ghostly woman when they were not trying to look or focus on her, but everytime they tried to focus on her, she seemed to be difficult to see. Early in the morning on the third day, Selestine visited Corind Park and found an isolated spot and closed their eyes to concentrate and focus on the feeling they usually got from their spirit friends rather than trying to look at her. They could feel her presence and asked if she could hear them. She was silent but Selestine sensed affirmation. They asked why she was following them. She still did not speak but Selestine felt the ghost had a purpose and being pulled toward the temple Pō had gone in along with an image of the temple in their mind, confirming that that was where the ghost had come from. Selestine followed cautiously toward the temple, but looking around for other ghosts. At this point they realised they could finally get a proper look at the ghostly woman. In the temple, the ghost pulls Selestine towards a female elven priestess wearing dark navy blue robes with a silver thread design embroidered on the front. The priestess asked how she could help. Selestine asked who's temple it was and the priestess told her it was the temple of Kuzmjir and Indona and that she was a priestess of Indona, the goddess of fate and prophecy. Selestine told her she was hoping to meet someone there and sat in the back, watching out for the ghost. Selestine notices the ghost briefly possess the priestess who jumps, but then nods. The ghost then left the priestess and then disappeared completely, after nodding and waving to Selestine. The priestess then approached Selestine again and told her to come with her. Selestine, confused but cautious, followed, with a hand on the hilt of a hidden dagger in case of danger. The priestess introduced herself as Imrithen Taldilinar as she lead Selestine down a long dark corridor off the side of the main chapel, which seemed impossible as it would have had to cut through the temple next door. Before Selestine could enquire or comment on this, Imrithen opened a door at the end of the hall. Selestine was immediately awestruck as they entered a vast and seemingly infinite space. They could not see a floor, ceiling, or walls. Instead, they were surrounded on all sides by stars. Imrithen led them further into the 'room' and invited Selestine to sit, although Selestine had to fight a lurching feeling with each step as they seemed to be walking in and on nothingness. When they finally sat, Imrithen started to speak, but her voice was then different, and her eyes had rolled back into her skull, showing only the whites of her eyes. Her voice then sounded like multiple voices at once and seemed to be coming from all possible directions and even from within Selestine's head. "I have been waiting for you to come to me, Selestine". Selestine asked how she knew their name. 'Imrithen' responded that she knew her name as she was the god of fate and prophecy, using Imrithen as a vessel to speak to them. She told Selestine that she had chosen them. "Your thread has been battered, twisted and frayed along the way, but you are where you are meant to be and the people you are with will strengthen your thread. You are part of an infinite tapestry. You have a role and potential. A golden thread bringing light in the dark." Selestine was confused and said they had no idea what she was talking about. They then got angry and asked if she was the one that make all the shit go wrong when they had their dream. Indona told them she did not make everything go wrong but she sent them on the path to make things right. Selestine told her she hadn't made things right for them and yelled at her that she couldn't call that right when people died because of them. Indona told them there was a greater plan and that if not for their actions, more would have died. Selestine said that didn't make it right for those that died. Indona nodded before saying "Fate and purpose is not without pain or suffering." Selestine asked what she wanted from them. She told them to stick with the friends they'd made, continue with their plan and defeat the evil. Selestine asked what obligation they had to do so after what she'd done to them. Indona told them their thread could follow wherever they chose and they had no obligation. Only potential, and purpose and that they could make a difference if they chose. Selestine got up and while they had not been able to see a door or exit since they had entered the 'room', upon deciding they wanted to leave, a door opened for them. As they went to exit, they stopped suddenly as they had vision of their former captain, who looked scared and was hiding. Selestine turned around and demanded to know where he was. Indona told them he was in Sund on the run and that his life was in danger and he knew it. Selestine said good and that they wished they were the one after them. Indona assured them that their thread may go down that path in time. Selestine asked if fate dictates as Indona says, then what did it matter if they listened to them or not? Indona replied "Every choice you make changes the tapestry. There are infinite possibilities. There are infinite threads and paths you can choose." Selestine asked if she could help them figure out which choices. Indona didn't immediately respond. Selestine said they were going to stick with their friends anyway, was that all? Indona replied "If that's all you wish". Selestine asked if gods were up for negotiation and Indona chuckled. Selestine asked if she could give them powers like her friends. Indona told them she had chosen them and if that was what they wished, she could help. Selestine said they would keep that in mind and left. The ghost, Talath Tohrthaal had not come back. Selestine then went back to Corind Park and thought about how trippy the star room was, and upon contemplation realised she had received a boon from Indona. Selestine then returned to The Stone Ox inn where the others were staying and arrived in time to join them for breakfast. By this time Glynna Willowbank and Tyna Brushgather had returned so they were eating in Glynna's kitchen. The others noticed Selestine was a bit more chipper than usual but did not discuss why. The party then discussed how they would go about finding the artifact in the middle of the Murilda Ocean. Tyna told them she had to leave to go figure out what was going on with the missing The Silver Whisperers and regrouping a bit. Glynna told them while they were away, she was going to start moving to the abandoned tower she'd been gifted and start restoring that, but before they left she wanted to talk with them about their plans and offer advice, especially if they ran into any trouble or danger underwater. She advised them that:

piercing melee weapons were more effective than slashing weapons
ranged weapons were also ineffective but crossbows were effective at their shorter range
Jodi would be better with a trident
Most spells work fine and as normal underwater, with some exceptions
Fire spells still work but have disadvantages (mechanically: creatures resist fire damage/take half damage; range and area of effect is halved; creatures have advantage on saving throws; fire can't ignite anything underwater)
Lightning spells have bonuses (mechanically: creatures have disadvantage on saving throws; range and area of effect is doubled; creatures have disadvantage on saving throws. This includes friendly fire)

Glynna also suggested that Harthe may want to stock up on chalks and inks for teleportation circles if they wanted to get places faster and that she could call ahead to Radelia Chapmyre in Nuvar if they wanted to go straight there. She also told them she had a contact in an underwater city called Ebitas who she could call in a favour with and help better equip the party for underwater exploration and protection but they would have to return the items or they would get into Glynna's bad books. She also expressed concern about Jodi's armour rusting and being too heavy for her. She then briefly left to talk to her contacts in Ebitas and returned, telling them that they would equip them and that equipment needed to be returned afterwards, but in exchange, they needed help with something. She gave them the location on their map and told them to stop there first. Pō asked how many other underwater cities there were. She said she only really knew of Ebitas. Pō asked how the city works and who lives there. She said lots of people lived there including merfolk, tritons, naiads, and water genasi. Pō asked how they felt about land folk. She said they were a peaceful folk and that land folk that ventured down were somewhat a rarity and novelty, and that as long as they were not aggressors, they were friendly toward land folk. Selestine asked about other dangers in the sea and Glynna said there were many dangerous sea creatures and monsters, particularly that far out from land. Harthe then left to buy chalks and inks and visited The Sphinx's Scrolls to look for lightning spells and a locate object spell. While they waited, Pō asked Selestine and Jodi if they remembered being a child and what their earliest memory was. Jodi talked about shopping with her mother and Selestine just said she remembered being a child. Pō said they didn't remember their childhood. They were in the forest and Te Tauheke o te Wairua looked after them. Selestine asked if they had a family. Pō said they didn't know their parents but they have siblings but they're not people. Selestine was confused but Jodi told them Pō's siblings are birds. Pō said one was a Ruru and the other was a Fantail/Piwakawaka. Selestine was confused by this but asked how Pō felt about not having a family in the traditional sense because it sounded lonely. Pō said they hadn't really felt anything for a long time but all of a sudden they are experiencing emotions and things were a bit strange and how their perception of things in the world had changed. They thought about how Harthe had a mother but no longer had a mother and it made them wonder who their parents were because you don't just pop out of the ground... but then they remembered about Suiadan Innion and clarified 'normally'. They said they felt confused about where they went and why they're not there. Selestine commented that Pō had seemed a bit different lately and Pō said it was because they went to the temple and got slapped in the face with a bunch of emotions. Jodi said that could happen sometimes, and Selestine agreed and said that happened to them recently too. Pō asked Selestine about when it happened to them. Selestine told them they were led to the temple of Indona and a lot happened and they're still processing, but the gods kind of seem like assholes. Pō said the gods seemed like they were really powerful but just as clueless as they were. Tyna then rushed back in and told them she'd intercepted a letter for Jodi and handed it over. Jodi read the letter and while Selestine tried to read it over her shoulder, was not able to parse the words. Pō tried to read Jodi's face for reactions but spilled tea on themself in their distraction. Selestine asked what was in the letter and Jodi lied that it was news from home in 'Maksary'. She said the news was good but the opinions in the letter were wrong. Tyna said she was going again and Jodi asked her if she was going to be going anywhere near Grechia. She then spoke to her privately, handing her a coin pouch with 200 platinum and asked her to take it to two humans in the Doki District in Grechia and gave the humans names and address. Tyna looked at her askance, noting the names but did not pry further. Jodi also gave her money as payment which Tyna tried to refuse but Jodi insisted. Tyna asked if she wanted to send a message as well. Jodi asked her to tell them their daughter is safe and has a job still but cannot come home yet for a bit longer. Tyna agreed and left. Jodi returned to the others. Selestine asked if she was ok and Jodi said she was just looking out for some older people she'd been caring out for for a while. Pō said they did not think it was an accident they were all together and that they were all friends. Jodi agreed and Harthe arrived back saying "and I didn't even need to cast a spell to make that happen!" Selestine had meanwhile set up a card game while they waited for Harthe and as they started Harthe arrived back and joined in. The rules being anyone who picked the lowest card had to drink. Pō was only drinking tea but still played. Pō lost twice and had to get another tea and scalded themselves on the second tea. They all gave up the game when they realised no one was getting drunk and Pō was just getting burnt. Harthe then asked if anyone wanted to put their valuables in their magic chest to keep them safe. Pō put some money in and so did Selestine. Harthe then went to put the artifact they'd got from Vanimaldine to see if anything happened to him, though the others were concerned someone may die and Selestine noted that it was more likely the one in the sea that was connected to Harthe. Harthe told Pō how to get the artifact out in case something happened to him and went ahead with putting the artifact in the box. Nothing happened though. They decided to see if they could get an audience with Haley Cleroy to test the artifact of Illusion. She agreed and they tested putting her artifact into the chest, with Glynna in attendance. It had no effect and they realised it was likely because of the warding magics that had been used on the artifact that had sickened Haley before. Assured that they weren't killing random rulers, they put all the artifacts they'd gathered into the chest. They thanked Haley for her time and told them they were going to get a ship and defeat the bad guys. Pō told her their team name was SBRO because it was orbs backwards and the bad guys will never guess. Haley raised an eyebrow but wished them luck. With the day having mostly passed and Selestine saying they'd be best to leave early morning, they decided to leave the next day.

Sonden 7 Snowdeep

Following breakfast, Glynna called ahead to Radelia and prepared a teleportation circle for them to get to Nuvar. Radelia greeted them in sign language and led them out of the temple. They headed out to the docks in search of a ship. They spotted a few ships but one in particular caught their eye due to its unusual name The Improbable. They walked up the gangplank onto the deck of the large ship where there were a few deckhands busying themselves with swabbing the deck, while nearby, a young black-haired half-elf woman in a long fitted blue robe, and a dusty blond-haired human man in a teal frockcoat looked to be engaged in a heated discussion. As they walked closer, they overheard the woman say "We need to get a job soon! This name of the ship does not work. It puts people off!" The man replied "What are you talking about? It's charming! Who doesn't love an underdog? Something will come along soon." He then spotted the party approaching and said to the woman "See what did I tell you Zalla? Here's some intrepid adventurer types right now!" and greeted the party "What can we do you for?" They handed the writ to him, which he read and replied "Well far be it for me to turn down her royal highness eminence's coin!" Zalla corrected him, "It's Her Imperial Majesty." They then started to get into a debate about the appropriateness of 'Imperial' when Cleroy isn't part of an empire, but Zalla gave up and rolled her eyes. The man, clearly the captain, called for a deckhand to go gather the crew and the young boy ran off to the docks. The captain then introduced himself as Captain Stryker and Zalla as his First Mate. The party introduced themselves with Harthe disguised as a wench still and introduced herself as Jessica. Zalla then showed them to their cabin and Harthe noticed in passing down the main corridor, that there was a door to the 'Captain's Quarters' and the next door had a sign with 'First Mate's Cabin' crossed out with charcoal and 'ISLA' scrawled over it. They eventually arrived in a cabin with three sets of bunks. Selestine commented that they were feeling seasick already. After leaving their gear in the cabin they returned to the deck and Pō after trying to get a read on whether or not Stryker seemed a capable captain but not being sure, showed him their map and said they wanted to go to Ebitas and asked if he'd been there before. He said he'd never heard of it but that they'd take them wherever they want to go. By this time most of the crew had boarded the ship again, in various stages of sobriety and drunkeness. The party recognised a few from their previous stay at Haunui's. The cabin boy returned to Stryker and Zalla and said that he had not been able to find Isla. A half-orc crew member called Galleon overheard and said he'd let her know the ship was ready to go and she'd be there soon and that she'd been a bit "occupied". Harthe replied "Ah a case of the runs. I understand," and Galleon chuckled. Zalla said to Stryker "We should just leave her behind in this wretched city. She'd fit right in. She's a liability and a reckless drunk!" A tall shapely bronze skinned human woman strutted onto the deck, laces only half done, mouth slightly smudged with red, hurriedly putting on a blue bandanna over her ruffled hair. "Ah Zalla, you say the nicest things about me!" she replied with a smirk. Zalla ignored her and said "She has no loyalty. She'll mutiny and stab you in the back. You know she wants to be captain, why do you keep her on the crew?!" Stryker responded that Isla was one of the best navigators around even when she was off her tits drunk, and that Zalla needed to sleep some time. Zalla intercepted to say that she was all the things Zalla had said, but she wasn't stupid and that she'd have more luck bedding Zalla than convincing the crew to turn on their beloved and annoying charismatic captain. Zalla stormed off and Stryker asked why she had to antagonise her. Isla made some comment about Stryker not loosening Zalla up enough, before finally noticing the party standing by. She greeted them with a flourished bow and introduced herself as Isla, Captain-in-waiting at their service. Stryker clarified that Isla was the Navigator of the ship and said he would leave them to work with her on the ship's destination while he went and did some damage control and made sure the ship was ready for departure. The party showed Isla their map and she compared with her charts. She told them the journey would take them about three days give or take depending on the conditions. The ship eventually set sail. Selestine kept their eyes on the horizon to stave off sea sickness. The weather was good and there was no wind. Harthe was confused how the ship was moving with no wind but he looked up and saw Zalla up in the crow's nest next to a steering wheel. He was confused again why a wheel would be up in the crow's nest but he noted that as she was using the wheel, somehow the sails were filling to propel the ship forward. He watched her with interest. He also looked at the sails wondering if there were runes on the sails. After a while he noticed her using some subtle somatic movements. Pō found a spot to sit and played on their lyre as they kept an eye out for sea monsters. Isla talked to Harthe (still disguised as Jessica) and asked how the ship was going when there was no wind. Isla was coy and responded that they had their ways. Harthessica pointed up with a knowing look. Isla smiled but didn't respond, but flirted with a wink and an arm touch. To which Harthessica winked back before Isla walked off again. That night they all joined the crew for dinner served by the ship's cook, Pierre. The food was fancier than would be expected on a ship and upon inquiries from the party, Stryker said he liked his small luxuries when it came to food so Pierre was more of a chef than a cook. With the crew properly gathered, Pō asked them where they were all from and where they normal stay and/or sail to. They said they sail wherever there's work. Pō commented that they really liked the name of the ship as it meant they achieve improbable things. Stryker thanked them and commented that most people when they say 'impossible' they mean 'improbable'. Pō asked about the area that the shipping routes now skirt around and Stryker said there were many rumours about that including about a sea monster inhabiting the area, but ships that go investigate never returned. Selestine asked when that started happening. He said it was about 25ish years ago. Pō then asked if he'd ever seen a mermaid and he said yes. They asked what mermaids were like and Isla cut in to say "hot". Stryker and Tilda, a female goliath crew member agreed. Stryker said they tended to avoid them as they could lose a lot of crew that way, looking pointedly at Isla and Tilda in particular who just laughed. Selestine, Jodi and Harthe then joined the crew with drinking and card games while Pō just watched. Eventually they went off to bed. Selestine went to bed rather tipsy and Harthe and Jodi noticed that as Selestine was going to sleep, they were rubbing a small white smooth stone and muttering to themself. Harthe tried to move closer to listen in but Selestine noticed and stopped muttering and hid the stone under their bedcovers. They made brief awkward conversation before Harthe went back to bed and they all went to sleep.

Smo'sby 8 Snowdeep

Harthe had a rude awakening in the morning as he fell out of his bunk and woke everyone up. For breakfast, Pierre served them oatmeal with fresh fruit and an array of flavoured syrups. The party ventured out to the deck aftewards. The weather was calm and warm and the ship was now out of the Albious Bay into the Vanim Channel. Selestine was somewhat hungover and seasick and vomited over the side. Isla told them you get used to it and sometimes more alcohol helps, which just made Selestine feel more ill. The day passed by with little excitement and Selestine taught Pō a card game without drinking. Pō watched Isla and noted some new emotions but was not sure how to process them. Harthe watched Zalla some more and Stryker noticed and went over to see if he was ok. Harthe(Jessica) said he(she)'d been wondering how she was making the ship move with little to no wind. Stryker was cagey and said there was some magic involved. Harthe was able to surmise that Zalla was an unregistered magic user and that was why the crew had been so cagey. Harthe assured Stryker that they wouldn't say anything and knew a bit about being in her situation, emphasising the point with some thaumaturgy making his(her) eyes change briefly. Stryker was unfazed and then asked what it was about the place they were taking the party to in the middle of the ocean. Harthessica said they were looking for stories and wanted to see what is was that had everyone avoiding the area and were interested in the underwater city. Stryker commented that the party did not look well equipped for underwater adventuring, and noting in particular that Jodi was likely to sink like a stone in her armour. Harthessica said that was where the city was. Stryker said they might have some spare leather armour they could borrow if they need it that might be more suited to movement underwater and less for drowning. Harthessica said they would think about it. Stryker then asked if they wanted the ship to wait around while they were gone or if they plan to swim to shore. Harthe asked if they wanted to come down with them because they might be able to trade with the city. Stryker asked if they were going to be able to breathe underwater. Harthe said they had their ways. The captain noted and asked Harthe if he'd gone to a magic school herself. She said evasively "Yeah I was taught." Stryker was not fooled and noted the ommission but accepted it. Harthe then took some time to continue transfering the scrolls he'd bought into his spellbook. Another night passed and Selestine did not drink as much so the others did not notice them behaving strangely as they fell asleep. That night, Selestine had a dream that they had had several times before. The dream then evolved to another where they saw an unfamiliar dwarven man presenting to an elven man fitting the description their friends had given of the Shadow Duke, an artifact.

Hossen 9 Snowdeep

The next morning as the party were getting ready for breakfast, Selestine told the others about their dream, with a disclaimer that they didn't want to cause alarm because it was just a dream, but Pō was immediately alarmed anyway because dreams had meaning and useful information in them. Pō realised the description of the dwarven man was very similar to that of Horren Grumdor. Pō lost their shit and started ranting about a cheating bastard. Selestine was alarmed and confused and asked to be filled in. Pō eventually calmed down and explained their history with Horren but that he hadn't been around when they found out about the Shadow Duke or the artifacts and that he was supposed to be on their side. Pō then remembered that they had left a sending stone with Horren and that Suiadan Innion had given the other one back to them before he returned to the Feywilde. Pō used it to yell at him about why he was working for the Shadow Duke and what was he doing. He eventually responded that he had no choice and the shadow duke had something on him and that he wasn't even supposed to be alive, and that he'd made him go back to Vol Darum but he didn't want to go back, and then asked 'Help!' Pō and Harthe maintained he was still a bastard, Pō in particular finding it difficult to keep their new found emotions under control. Following breakfast, the party went on deck and saw that a storm was raging overhead but it was being staved off by Zalla with a protective bubble around the ship. However the storm delayed their progress, and the party went back below deck for safety. Isla let them know that they were more likely to not get to their destination till midday the following day. By the evening, the storm had subsided and as the party turned in for night, Selestine asked the others if they'd ever seen a silver dragon. They told Selestine they'd seen something that looked like a dragon flying high overheard when they were first going to Nuvar but they couldn't be sure it was a dragon and they couldn't really tell what colour it was. Selestine told them that the dream with the dwarf wasn't the first time they'd had a dream that turned out to be true but it's only happened a couple of times and a lot of shit happened but they also keep having recurring dreams about a silver dragon but they've never seen one in real life, and they'd started having those dreams around the same time as the prophetic dreams started. Pō asked what happened in the dreams and were they bad. Selestine said they just had a peaceful good feelings about the dragon but there was nothing specific that it was doing or anything particularly happening but that it was strange they kept happened. Harthe reminded about how it was believed that dragons were extinct but that there was also folklore about dragons being shapeshifters so it was possible they'd been living on in different forms. Pō also asked again for clarity on which dragons were supposedly evil and which ones were good and Harthe said that it was commonly believed that chromatic dragons were evil and metallic dragons were good. They then headed to sleep.

Dorent 10 Snowdeep

The following morning the party heard shouts coming from the deck along with occasional violent lurches of the ship. They hurriedly put on their armour and headed out to deck to discover that the ship was being attacked by harpies. They joined in the fight helping Stryker, Zalla, Isla, Galleon, Tilda, and Tripp. They noticed that each of those crew members had some interesting abilities of their own. Stryker in particular releasing a shadow beast in the fight. They eventually defeated all the harpies and Pō commented on how they had some really cool moves. The sails were pretty damaged however and it was estimated their journey would be further delayed as they repaired the sails.

Character(s) interacted with

Created Content

Notes

Selestine also managed to make one potion of healing during the downtime.

Campaign

Venturers of Iklarel

Protagonists

Selestine Ignasia

Pōtiki

Jodariel Balakin

()

8 / 8 HP

STR

DEX

CON

INT

WIS

CHA

Harthe

Report Date

19 Jan 2022

Primary Location

Rouvray

Secondary Location

Nuvar

Previous sessions

Following sessions

Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild

Session 34 Report

General Summary

Follen 6 Snowdeep 834EA

Sonden 7 Snowdeep

Smo'sby 8 Snowdeep

Hossen 9 Snowdeep

Dorent 10 Snowdeep

Character(s) interacted with

Created Content

Notes

Selestine Ignasia

Pōtiki

Jodariel Balakin

Harthe

Comments

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies