Session 170 - "Regroup and Retrace"
General Summary
Facing an overwhelming obstacle, the Fellowship returns to Illmarsh to recoup and plan their next action.
Sunday, Desnus 1, 4711 AR
Undiomede Manor
12.43a
The remaining Dagon cultist throws up his hands and begs that his life be spared. Kelath tells him to call off the giant and he will be. He eyes the party and cries out, "Yib, stand down, I have this under control. Go back to you post!" The marsh giant grunts and grumbles in acknowledgement. X tells the cultist to stand fast and not make for the window. The priest once again concedes and asks to be allowed to go. X tells him to answer their questions and he might live before disarming him of his spiked gauntlet. X indicates for him to go down the hallway as Yib also draws back. Kyrrn rushes to the corner and confirms her worst fear; the baby is dead. Kelath asks who all is in the ruins. The priest replies that he came with Vicar Proskar and Vicar Everard. The group had been looking for Father Voltario. X demands to know where the Sea-Sage Effigy was supposed to be exchanged, but the cultist claims to not know anything about it. He does, however, confirm that something big was supposed to be taking place, but also claims to know not what. He said people were going crazy and that things were exploding out of their bodies. With further prompting, he admits knowledge that the visor had some of the local drunks and riffraff rounded up to be sacrificed to the Neighbors. He has never seen them, however, and they only communicate with the vicars and the vizor. The town had been engaging in the Fostering and had been blessed with plentiful fish catches. Now they wanted the townspeople to help with something, but knows not what. He also confirms that other townspeople had their heads exploding with whipping tentacles. Some died immediately as if their blood had been sucked away, but all contained the frightening creatures. He asserts that he was just following orders, but grimly confides that he doesn't think even the elders are in control. The priest once again asks to be freed. Kyrrn asks him how to control the giant. After a moment, he removes his ceremonial garb and says that she has been trained not to attack those wearing the robe. X asks Kelath if the man's action warrant mercy, who replies yes as long as he is truly repentant. However, Kyrrn steps out and calls out to Yib who she orders to attack the fleeing cultist. The exchange is quick and brutal. Kyrrn begins speaking with the marsh giant. In questioning her, Yib says that Albor Voltario is her father and she serves him, not the Recondite Order. However, indicants to the robes Kyrrn is wearing and replies, "Father say ok. Ulat-kini ok," meaning she has been taught not to attack the cultists or the Neighbors. Yib also indicates that she is guarding the door while Father Voltario is upstairs.12.53a
Kyrrn rejoins the party and they begin discussing their next move. It is decided to withdraw back to the town and assess their options. Kelath lays hands on Neferu as Kyrrn looks over the vicar's belongings, adding a +1 Striking Spear and a +1 Striking Morningstar to the party's bag of holding.1.03a
As they go to leave, the party sees something darker than the night itself passes over them. A huge bat-like creature passes through the moonlight and X begins wiping blood from his nose as the shantak makes another appearance, reminding everyone of X's ailment. There is also the sound of something large moving in water comes from the direction of the lake, as if something was surfacing. Neferu sends the Soul forth invisibly to investigate and sees something very large, whale-like, and black descending back into the water.Croon's Workshop
1.23a
The Fellowship returns to Illmarsh and makes its way to Croon's workshop, avoiding the still festive town square. Letting themselves inside, they find the inventor snoring in his bed. Neferu carefully attends to everyone's wounds before all collapse in exhaustion.9.53a
They wake to the sounds of Croon working in his shop and a modest breakfast prepared for them. Kelath joins him as he recounts that he hadn't participated in last night's festivities. Questioning the inventor, Kelath asks what he knows of the Recondite Order. Croon dismisses them out of hand, but admits they run the town. He also tells him that Albor has four sons in the Order was well and that he has a few run-ins with him, such as making shopping more expensive for him until he had donated to the church. He also feels that the elder Voltario does not look kindly on his working on the Isinglass.10.13a
Croon suddenly remembers something and he draws everyone's attention to a journal with notations. He says that he believes he has solved the issue with pressure on the hull, letting oxygen to flow, allowing for someone to actually be inside. Neferu praises the achievement and tells him that Professor Lorrimor would be proud. Croon says that it could be ready for testing as soon as tomorrow if they are up for it. Croon confirms information they knew about the Unidomede Manor, but is able to add that Father Voltario always made sure that anyone was curious would quickly lose interest in them. He also confides that Cassius was not as honorable as he seemed and made most of his coin as a smuggler. A good one at that, and every good smuggler has tunnels to smuggle with. Kyrrn sits down with the frog globe and focuses on Father Voltario. The frog begins sluggishly moving within the globe and the familiar viscous film covers her eyes. She is suddenly looking down at the Unidomede Manor as if from a great height. She begins descending and sees a domed roof with a widow's walk around it. As the vision moves, she can see a figure in Recondite Order ceremonial robes and an elaborate headdress. He is kneeling and appears to be wracked with pain as he holds something in his hands. It clears and she can see he holds a bloody corpse ripped to shreds that is also wearing robes and is weeping over it. In circumspection, Kyrrn realizes that the body suffered damage unrelated to X's weapons.10.23a
The group begins making its way back to the town square to visit the mayor. Kyrrn notes that Yib has a unique relationship with the Father, tending to eat people, not serve them. Marsh giants typically worship Dagon and the Great Old Ones. There are rare instances where a group of the giants can come together for some religious occurrence, but it's not known exactly what it is. Through their veneration of these gods, marsh giants can create an obscuring mist and curse their enemies. Unfortunately, no obvious weakness is known, though their beliefs could possibly be turned against them somehow. Perhaps if somehow what Voltario is doing can be shown to be working against Yib's beliefs, she can be possibly swayed.Town Hall
10.33a
The town square is a far cry from what it was last night. It is nearly deserted and remnants of the revelers are scattered everywhere. Entering the town hall, they encounter a weary Bertha. Kelath inquiries about the mayor, but she says that he hasn't made it in yet. She seems to be a little nervous of his absence and attempts to play it off. The Fellowship offers to pay him a visit at his home, which she gratefully accepts.Mayor's House
10.43a
Knocking on the mayor's door produces no response and no one seems to stir within. Looking within, nothing seems out of place or suspicious. The group goes around the home and carefully enters through the back door. Kyrrn reaches out with her mind, but detects no presences. They find the mayor's bedroom, but they note with some concern that it is unslept in and tidy. Concerned, the Fellowship returns to the church.Church of the Recondite Order/Church of Dagon
11.03a
The undersheriff's body is gone with only a dried pool of blood to mark where it lay. Unlocking the door and entering, the Fellowship finds nothing different from how they left the Dagon. X begins gathering clean robes for everyone to don, should they need to. He also notices the locked sea chest in the nicer bedroom. Kelath makes quick work of the lock and pops it open. Within are several very nice robes and three disturbing statues that resemble the Sea-Sage Effigy. They depict tentacled creatures and are made from a red-colored gold. Neferu notes that it appears to be a rare metal called Fishgold that is normally found only in the depths of Lake Encarthan. The statues appear to be connected with the worship of Dagon. Additionally there are two vials of liquid (Moderate Elixirs of Life).11.13a
The secret altar room is examined again. It is embellished with mosaics detailing strange sea creatures, such as kraken and mermaids, including what appears to be human women mating with fish-men. Turning her attention to the destroyed altar, Kyrrn examines it closer and notices that it was most likely made from one large piece of coral. She looks over the debris carefully before taking a distinctive piece of it.Town Hall
11.23a
Returning to the town hall, they find the mayor still hasn't arrived. Kelath questions Bertha further, trying to find any leads to his location, but she isn't able to offer anything of substance. Bertha leaves and sets off to find the mayor herself. Going to the sheriff's office, the group looks to see if there is anything of use. They find a well-made shield with the symbol of House Unidomede. It is of fine design with runes cleverly hidden within the artwork, but is left there. X discovers a list of people that the sheriff found to be suspicious, or at least warranted to be watched. He also makes mention of Gaster Lucas, the Dark Riders (3 days past), and a party of five merchants (the Fellowship). Also referred to is another group of eight (a day before) that are sticking to themselves and appear to be undercover, "aristocrat on the run?".Versex Sessions
Report Date
19 Feb 2023
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