Session 24: Putting The Pieces Together

The party attempts to make sense of what they just experienced, realizing as they did so that they'd not completely filled Therrik in yet regarding their travels so far. They then proceeded further beyond the strange gate, before finding themselves in a large chamber, with raised platforms and etched columns.

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Back in Black

The party finds themselves as if awaking from a daze or dream, standing back within the darkness of the large circular gate, with a completely confused Therrik looking at them all.   As Therrik describes it, he watched the party go mad; speaking about seeing things within the darkness, before seemingly engaging something in combat. Indeed, the rest of the party were exhausted; although unhurt. Tilly asked Therrik, who confirmed he wasn't seeing anything that they did. They both agreed that they were pranked. Fork and Tilly ramble of various things that they saw, to no avail. Brian acknowledged that the cliffside region was his home; and the party agreed that they all saw the creature that attacked him there turn into Mary. Fork inquired about the giant fairy, whom Tilly acknowledged was someone she knew, although not that big.   Unsure what could have caused such an event, Brian hypothesizes that it may have been another trick of the Raven Queen. However, the the raven that accompanies Fork seemed to shake its head, which Fork noted with bemusement seemed to confirm that the animal understood them. The animal returned the favor by beginning to mimic Fork incessantly.   The party, having just espoused a variety of theories, triggered a question from Therrik, as he was unfamiliar with The Raven Queen. They fill him in regarding the deity, and explains that the raven on his shoulder, and the mark on his hand, were due to an agreement he had made in the encounter.   Realizing that there was a bit more relevant information Therrik was unaware of, Fork shows him what the hooded manta ray creature that attacked them looked like, as well as the strange reptilian creature. Therrik identified the hooded figure as a Simic; a type of creature from his world that seems to mutate and experiment on itself; often demonstrating aquatic animal features.   Still unclear on what had just occurred, they run through everything that they saw. Fork confirms that he knew the city, Stormreach. He described seeing some people he knew, before a sense of dread overtook him, and he found himself in Brian's home. Brian expressed that the creature that attacked him was a Cloaker, a serious and recurring threat to his people. Vita confirms that the large manor they found themselves in front of was her father's home. Maldwyn seemed less certain about the strange hallway they had found themselves diminished in. Tilly suggests that it must have been one of his adventures with a different warrior fairy, of which Maldwyn seemed to eventual resign himself to, unable to elaborate. Tilly insists that Mary was accompanied by clones of the party, a fear she has repeatedly expressed since they met the Hag.   The last of the aggressors, the devils and the tiefling, were recognized by Vita. She explains that her name is Amosia, and that she was an old friend whose betrayal led to her banishment. She's unsure if she's still a threat to the party, but it was clear that Vita despised her.   With all of the various pieces in place, and the various weaknesses they seemed to feel within their own "space", Tilly comes to the conclusion that what they experienced was a nightmare, and as such don't have to make sense. Fork suspects that the large gateway may have been an old gate to Dal Quor, the plane of dreams, where the Quori they had been told about by Vita, Kerani, and Iskandar over the past several days.   They realize that Therrik, unlike the rest of them, does not sleep. With that final piece in play, it made sense that he wasn't drawn into this strange dream like the rest of them; although why they experienced it together, and how it all went, eluded them. Either way, they were wasting time, and there was no end in sight.  

On the Road Again

Continuing onward, the party comes across three paths forward. Checking the Seeker's Compass, to no avail, they decide arbitrarily to travel the rightmost path. After some snaking tunnels, the pathway opens up into a vast subterranean room. Fork sneaks ahead cautiously to scout, coming across some etchings on the floor, seemingly filled with a hard, clear, material in the silent dark room. Continuing forward, a raised platform, and some etched pillars, become visible on the edge of their vision. Tilly, growing impatient with the silent, cautious approach, tosses a ball bearing onto the platform. The sound echoes through the expansive space, but nothing happens.