Session 51 - Spirits Near Aleksandrovka Become Manifest

General Summary

The party rested at the nunnery in Aleksandrovka. Sister Evdokia questioned Marina about who she had arranged Ivan's marriage with and was relieved to learn it was to a girl from a fishing village, a safer place than Aleksandrovka. Evdokia was concerned that Ivan might never find a place to settle down.
The next morning, Agnessa, Dukh, and the rest of the party attended mass. While Dukh fooled around, Agnessa attempted to partake in the communion wafers, which began to burn her insides. She quickly found a secluded spot to throw them back up.
After mass, the party set out to find the cave where Light-Heart had been laid to rest. On the way, they met Emil, who had been nosing around the village, and had a screaming dough bun in his mouth. This turned out to be Lada's Kolobok, which had apparently taken up residence at her abandoned house. After getting the dog to release it, they proceeded to the cave. Ivan decided to stay outside the cave with some others, while Agnessa and Dukh ventured inside. Inside the cave, they sensed a presence. Initially hesitant, Agnessa eventually allowed Light-Heart to possess her, enabling Dukh to converse with the spirit.
Through Agnessa, Light-Heart revealed to Dukh that ancient forces tied to the old gods worshipped by the Volkhvy were in conflict. A new change was arising, heralding the imminent awakening of the five-legged dog monster. This revelation greatly shook Dukh.
Meanwhile, Groump had been chopping wood with the builders sent from Dubno. When the party returned to the nunnery, some builders who had stayed behind expressed concern, as neither Groump nor the rest of the wood choppers had returned. Investigating further, the party followed strange signs left by Groump and the builders, eventually discovering that the Lord of the Forest had trapped them within his domain. A pack of wolves and a bear then attacked them from different sides, and after they managed to dispatch them, the Tsar emerged from underground.

Report Date

05 May 2024