Session 4: Well Begun is Hard Won

General Summary

The party recruit some Spirit Friends to help them infiltrate the caves below the Glittering Valley and fight (and ultimately sort of rescue) the Samovila that has been terrorising the valley.

Morning Messes

Vasilly is awoken by the smell of burning vanilla. Upon investigation he finds their new house spirit Kiki Mora making giant piles of ununiformly burnt Blini for breakfast. His overly acute sensitivity to danger (probably as a result of his time at War) has allowed him to step in before the Kikimora can experimentally pour vodka all over the pancakes she is making for him.
Upon learning that she is attempting to fill the role of their missing Domovoi, Vasilly keeps his temper, but he does insist that she not make any more Blini. He also stops her trying to clean up with the wrong end of the broomstick until they have had a chance to teach her the proper methods.
Baboushka fills a glass vial with a sample of the charred blini meal, and Bogdan uses his magic to purefy the rest (except Kiki's portion). Baboushka makes tea for everyone (puetrifying Kiki's serving, much to the Kikimora's delight). It's only just past dawn, and Vasilly is not shy to add some Vodka to his tea: "This may be long day".

Recruiting the Spirits

The Malachite Cavern

The Fight with the Samovila

When they reached the Well Spring, Baboushka took charge trying to negotiate with the Samovila of the Glittering Valley, however, it quickly became clear that the Samovila was not going to talk. The Samovila created a huge wave from the water of the well spring, flooding the area, and making it difficult to reach her. However, the party had Kolodet with them, who could move through the muddy terrain and reach the Samovila. Aided by a Stirge, summoned by Bogdan, the Samovila was restrained and weakened, but not before she was able to take a good chunk out of Sergei.
The party, with the help of the spirits they had gathered along the way, finally managed to subdue her (with Kiki's obnoxious lullaby singing putting the Samovila to sleep). With the assistance of their spirit friends, Baboushka used her healing magic and skills to cut the Samovila open and remove the icecrystal that was forming around her heart.
The surgery was a lot for the Samovila to sustain, and she began to fade away even as Vasilly carried her towards the Well Spring. She briefly resolidified as her unconscious (but living) form was lowered into the water. As the heroes watched on, the Samovila merged with her well, unable or unwilling to remain physically part of the mortal realm while she recovered from the surgical trauma.

A Meeting With Birch

Rewards Granted

Experience

Secret entrance and getting past timber wolves (100) + Subterranean Bramblelash (400) + Purple Moss (600) + Samovila of the Glittering Valley (1600) + Saving Samovila's existance (100) = 934xp each

Treasure

Charcoaled Blini sample; Wooden Mushroom Kingdom button (signed by Boris Mushroomcap) ; unmelting ice-crystal in the shape of a Samovila heart; Birchwood Tablet with a map of the Forest of Frost; 3 Birchwood Armours; 1 teapot-worth of Birchwood Bark Tea; 4 Posies of the Glade.

Report Date

12 Feb 2022

Primary Location

Malachite Cavern

Secondary Location

Well Spring

Related Plots

• Episode 4: Well Begun is Hard Won