On to Camp Rutok

The party heads to Camp Rutok, but finds it already destroyed. Instead, they have their first encounter with Lylla Darkwind.

December 19th

The party remembers that they ambushed the Orcs at night, when most of them are out in the forest on the hunt. Yarver suggests they just leave and not worry about it, but the party decides to stay and finish off the Orcs. They are tired and dawn is coming, but the party decides to prepare to slaughter the Orcs that are due to return.   Dispatching the incoming Orcs was not as easy as they expected it would be. The battle with The Prophet drained most of their strength, but they emerged victorious. After discovering the secrets that Camp Var'Cha held beneath it, they decided to venture to Camp Rutok next.  

December 20th - December 21st

The party travels slowly and stealthily through Crushbone territory towards Camp Rutok.  

December 22th

The party arrives at the camp just after midnight. They approach carefully, Yarver wild shapes to see nothing. In fact, it looks like the camp has already been attacked by someone else. Carlos summons his Demon, Macuth, to investigate the camp, but it yells loudly as they try to sneak around.   They are surprised by a Vampire, who they later learn to be Lylla Darkwind, in bat form and a few other Vampire spawn. Carlos attempts to talk with her, but she's claims to be more interested in a bit of fun and food, so she attacks the party.   Lylla seemed to have the upper hand initially, but in her confidence she underestimated the party and the tide of the battle quickly turns. Fearing defeat, she attempts to flee. After some severe strikes, she explodes into a sentient cloud of pink mist. The mist begins to drift up and away from the party, but with the help of Carlos, Roswyn is able to fly after her with Ellie following them on the ground. The rest of the party stays at the camp to finish off the Vampire spawns.   Roswyn continues to strike at the mist with her axe to no avail. In frustration, Roswyn swings an empty bottle through the mist to try and capture her, also to no avail. A voice enters Roswyn's mind and says "restore my vitality and I shall help you," but Roswyn refuses. During the chase the voice in Roswyn's head seems to become less clear and more desperate. Eventually Roswyn agrees and they both descend to the ground. Roswyn, unsure what is meant by vitality, tries cutting her hand waving it around in the mist. Ellie summons some goodberries and smashes them in her hands and also waves them around in the mist. After some time with no effect, Roswyn decides to cast a healing spell on the mist of Lylla, which restores her physical form, although weaker.   After some negotiations, Lylla submits to a zone of truth to answer some questions while she's allowed to regenerate. Carlos asks Lylla what Mayong Mistmoore's plans are. She ultimately does not have much information about it, but she does reveal more of the culture of Vampires. Mayong is the first and master of all Vampires, and Vampires cannot betray him even if they wanted to. She explains that commands from ones master are more than words, they are a compulsion that cannot be ignored.   Lylla seems disinterested in the plans of Mayong and the tasks he has sent her on recently. Ellie abruptly interrupts and asks if Lylla knows about a male Vah'Shir that was on Faydwer 25 years ago. She claims never to have met him, but heard about his inquisitive nature and other Vampires speaking of him. After some more vague answers and quips, Lylla ominously mentions that she knows about Carlos's family. Carlos makes some threats against the Vampires and Mayong, but Lylla is not phased. She cautions him that there are worse things than death. As she takes her leave, she mentions to Ellie that those that the Vampires like to toy with often end up in the catacombs as toys.   As the hour gets later, the party decides to setup camp and rest for the evening before heading back to Orc Hill. They take this respite to reflect on their recent experiences and feelings. Ellie continues to be lost in her journal with a sort of renewed determination. Roswyn reminisces about simpler times when you could just arrest people and let them sleep it off. She's frustrated at all of the bad things that the party and society are just letting slide. Carlos is shaken up as he has started interacting with the family Demon and generational enemy in non-violent terms. Yarver is very situationally focused, spending less time on himself and more on the others. He constantly scans the horizon for threats and kicks himself for letting Arya almost die. Arya stoically treats his wounds.   As Ellie rifles through her things on her watch, she finds a note that was left for her:   Raja went to the tombs underground,
A place where mortals dare not tread,
In to the depths he continued down,
He soon wished that he were dead.   Ellie brings it to the attention of the party the next morning and states her interest in investigating it as soon as they have a chance. After sensing further impending danger, Roswyn gives each of the group a platinum ring that she can use for certain spells. They pack up camp and begin their journey back to Orc Hill.