Chapter 3, Session 5: Putting down the Dog

General Summary

COMBAT BEGINS!
Peregrine cast Bane on Faithful as Sigholdt Sofiasson cast Sanctuary on Mallus Somnium to protect him as he was the nearest party member to The Venator . In shooting an Eldritch Blast at Venator Faithful, Sigholdt learned the Venator was immune to psychic damage. Venator Faithful proceeded to go into his mythic state. Failing to hit Malus thanks to the Sanctuary, Venator Faithful transformed into his wolf-like form and raced after Peregrine. In one turn he managed to reach Peregrine and knock her unconscious despite her starting at full hp. Esmerae ran in and carved into the Venator with an additional hexblade curse. With a stroke of genius, Malus coated his blade with a legendary poison, the Draft of Ergot. This poison would prove to be Venator Faithful’s undoing. With a little luck, Hermione channelled a lightning Chromatic Orb to force the Venator to drop his weapon as Sigholdt, Malus and Esmerae surrounded the Venator. Seeing himself in a dangerous position, Venator Faithful cast haste on himself - Hermione mirrored the spell and cast haste on Malus.
Esmerae bit into Venator Faithful with a critical hit as Malus quickly healed Peregrine with one of her healing potions. Peregrine, panicked, misty stepped away, missing her Guiding Bolt attack in her rush. Sigholdt cursed Venator Faithful as he carved into him. Suddenly, Malus’ poison began to take effect, forcing the Venator to miss all his attacks. While Malus and Esmerae carved into the Venator, Peregrine healed Mikhael Solitsev to stop him from bleeding out. Hermione’s bad luck returned, causing her to miss her attack as Sigholdt cast his Vow of Emnity. In a stubborn rage, Venator Faithful channelled his attacks on Malus but kept missing, even triggering the door trap Peregrine had found earlier, and fucking up a sofa. Angrily, Venator Faithful tried to go invisible, but Peregrine was just close enough to Counterspell it. Esmerae goaded Venator Faithful but he shielded against her attacks, as Peregrine, Hermione and Sigholdt all missed their own. Venator Faithful, eager to bring death and looking for an easy target, shadow-stepped to Mikhael Solitsev and raced to Peregrine, looming ominously over her. Esmerae ran after but couldn’t quite get in reach, shooting an Eldritch Blast instead. Malus managed to reach the Venator, carving into him with yet another critical hit! Peregrine, in what she thought might be her last moments, healed Mikhael Solitsev one last time with her last spell slot, and subtly told Malus she had one healing potion left. Before anyone else could react though, Hermione hit with a cold chromatic orb, and Sigholdt got the final kill with his Eldritch Blast!
The party rapidly looted the Venator’s body before it started to dissolve back into the Shadowfell. They agreed to keep Mikhael’s secret about his dreams, and in return, he agreed to let us get paid still and gave us his magical scimitar as an extra gift. A later Identify discovered it was a powerful, but dangerous weapon for the wielder. The Scimitar of Life Ruining. Sigholdt took a moment to tell everyone about the feminine voice he heard that had warned him of the Venator’s betrayal. After getting permission to head off, Esmerae paused to check the trapped door, finding a small room with a symbol on the floor. After getting Hermione to identify it, Hermione had to touch the symbol to do it - triggering the Symbol which released 3 sending spells. The spells told the party to take the Dreaming Veil hidden in the desk so that the voice’s employer could contact the party later that night. Peregrine found the baggie, with Mikhael feigning ignorance. Peregrine held out the bag for Sigholdt to take after she advised the best way to take the drugs. Sigholdt instead blew some of the Dreaming Veil at Peregrine before taking some himself, so he wouldn’t be contacted alone (something Peregrine was not happy about). The party finally said goodbye to Mikhael Solitsev, paused to get some robot parts and crystals for Hermione, and then headed back to their tavern.
Going over Venator Faithful’s loot, Sigholdt found 2 letters, one addressed to 'Kluivert' about finding and tracking and stopping the party before their prophecy, the second letter was a very accurate picture of Peregrine (Peregrine chose to keep the picture). The party went to sleep, and Peregrine and Sigholdt dreamed together of two chairs in an interview space. The pair sat and a crimson-robed attractive woman joined them - appearing to be a 30-year-old human woman with a purple sash, blonde hair and blue eyes. She admitted that helping the party with the warning was a gambit. She was there in the dream now to deliver a message. Her employer was desperate for their enterprise to continue - Emperor Honour’s interest was not good for the business. The woman also stated she was afraid of consequences if she was found involved and with the information that she was about to give:
Every night Emperor Honour goes at the stroke of midnight to the Crypt of Emperors for one hour. Each night, he comes out with tears, and each night a new Nightmare is born.
Sigholdt and Peregrine thanked the woman for the info. Peregrine asked what she meant by Peregrine’s dreams being unspeakable, as she had been able to describe the dreams of the other party members. The woman said she literally couldn’t speak of them. Sigholdt’s were dreams of guilt, Malus’ of horror. The pair bid her farewell, learning her name is Mother Katerina. Peregrine and Sigholdt return to their own dreams. While Peregrine’s were normal, Sigholdt’s dreams changed and, at one point when asked what he treasured, he stated “Nothing”. Hero and Crumble changed for the worse as a result.
The next day, Peregrine and Sigholdt updated the rest of the party, and Peregrine pulled Sigholdt aside to check in on him. Sigholdt admitted to dreaming more and that he was considering contacting the Waking, though he was unsure how. Peregrine offered her help and support, reminding him that he didn’t have to do things alone now. The two shared a bonding moment before Peregrine booped his noose and the two rejoined the party.
Next stop: Rewards!

Report Date

15 Mar 2024