Session 41 - The Spring of Renewal

General Summary

The party realized that a rest taken back in the monastery would be much appreciated. As they returned, Marina collected the man turned dog, trying to hide it as they brought him into the convent. However, as they were heading there to enter, the dog ran up to an unattractive woman in her 20s. The woman, who called herself Agnessa, seemed to recognize the dog. However, as the party tried to confront her, she tried to quietly convey what she knew, since they were still in the middle of the monastery compound. The nuances of what she said was mostly lost on the party, but eventually, Agnessa went off to speak to Marina and Alena in the women's dormitory after the kennel boys came to collect the dog.
Agnessa explained that she knew this man turned dog as her nephew, and was quick to berate him for his stupidity. However, she knew not of how to undo his curse, and her interlocutors explained that they were exploring caves beneath the church connected to the Old Gods, and hopefully a method to undo curses. Agnessa seemed unusually interested in such topics, but first went to also find a place to rest.
As the convent required everyone to join in all prayers in exchange for room and board, Agnessa decided to seek her own accommodations. After trying, first, to leave the the city, then thinking better of it because of the duty imposed for for reentering, she tried to find a hostel or inn to stay, and ended up trying to sleep on the street. The guards were having none of that, of course. So she ended up having to return to the church, leaving her nephew in the kennels for the time being.
Ivan was separated from the women, and spent time in prayer, reading, and contemplation of a wooden toy he had received. Dukh v Dymu stayed with him, willy-nilly, but despite his dislike of the True Confession, he found the singing of the monks strangely soothing.
The party reunited the following day to continue in the caves with the dog. However, after Ivan's incautious comment about her age, Marina, offended by some of the comments being made about her age, went off in a huff to help in the kitchens.
Having reentered the caves, they party found a door with bright light pouring out from a crack beneat it. This door also has what looked to be four animal-shaped keys. But without a method to open it, they moved on to the passage that seemed to be dedicated to Veles.
They cleared out the cave entrance, and found a hallway that led to a pool of mud full of frogs. Dukh attempted to communicate with them, and learned that they were warning people away from this entrance to the realm of death. Ivan had enough of these servants of Veles, and started to smash the frogs, demanding they send their defenders and warriors to fight him. Dukh was astonish and outraged, but the rest of the party joined in when a few scaly, stinking creatures crawled out of the muck and attacked. Ivan, in his weakened state, was no match for them alone, and fell.
Alena and Agnessa worked together to fend them off, killing them and dragging the now dying Ivan from the pool. After they had done so, a voice spoke from the pit. It made a deal; one of the party members would serve it, and in return would be granted powers, and access to the pool that removed curses. Agnessa accepted on behalf of the dog, her nephew. Dukh accepted on behalf of Ivan.
Returning once again to the door connected to Yarilo, which no longer had light shining beneath it, the door opened easily. The chamber beyond was a leafless tree adorned with golden feathers tied with strings to the branches, with a pool beneath it. The pool was created by water that flowed from an opening further back, adorned on the sides where the opening with crosses etched into the cave walls. Agnessa took one of the feathers, which to Ivan and Alena, resembled the feather taken by their erstwhile companion, Munkh Khangarid. But attempting to touch the water resulted in Agnessa getting burned. She warned the dog against drinking it, but Ivan and the dog drank despite this risk.
They were not harmed, but also neither were cure of their curses. Unsure of what to do, the party rested, and Ivan prayed for an answer.

Rewards Granted

• Access to the Spring of Renewal

Missions/Quests Completed

• The party locates the Spring of Renewal, and Ivan (and Emil the Dog) drink from it

Report Date

03 Dec 2023

Secondary Location

Dubno