Session 21: Logren Attacks, Ilven's Grand Entrance, The Carriage Ride and The Statue at Thera Relovut!

General Summary

Logren Attacks!

The session began with a knock at the door in The Old Woman's Cottage. Panic overcame some of you as Kaswink suggested this could be the same spirit that came knocking your first night in the Spirit World. Frode guarded the door by bracing his spear, and reminded everyone that you are all in hell. Others had a less visceral reaction, thinking that maybe the door should be answered, and Hysteria sneaked out the back to get a jump on your would-be aggressor. Frode prevented anyone from answering the door, especially AND whom attempted to open it themselves. Some theories were crafted about who the old woman is, and as everyone was discussing this or sneaking around, another knock was heard, followed by a brief pause, and then the door opening to reveal a green mantis man . He was dressed rather well, a nice coat with tails, a ruffled collar, and some simple leather armor with a rapier at his hip. Behind him was a very fancy carriage with swooping corners, gold filigree, and other embellishments.

This mantis, later revealed to be named Logren, requested that you all lay down your weapons or anything that could be used in a harmful way such as components, spell foci and the like, and to kneel. This request was met with apprehension by most of the group, especially Kaswink, AND and Frode whom already had their weapons drawn. This person lost even further trust as he refused to provide information about who sent him, just repeating that you need to disarm and kneel, and if you do so quickly and quietly there will be no blood shed "you will be safe." "You ask a lot of questions, questions that I am not here to answer. I am simply here to ask you to lay down your weapons and kneel." Agave did have some thoughts that maybe you all should have done as this person says, thinking that he did not seem to be here maliciously, just here doing his job. Despite this, Frode continued asking questions, specifically wondering who sent him. He seemed worried that this mantis could be here illegally, but Logren refused to give up the name of his charge. Agave continued to give this man the benefit of the doubt though, suggesting that he would have attacked on sight if he had any intention of doing so. Frode had concern over losing his weapons, worried that he would not be safe against the environment, let alone the mantis. Meanwhile, Hysteria was still sneaking 'round the outside and was preparing to investigate the carriage. They discovered that there was nobody inside, nobody at the reigns, just an empty fancy carriage. They also prepared an attack should the situation inside the cottage escalate.

Suspicions were still rising, and Agave had thoughts that this mantis was sent here by whoever was controlling the old woman. Perhaps it was just a vessel, a puppet, not alive at all, and continued suggesting that you all lay down your weapons as well. Tensions were getting bad, Logren's rapier was rising and preparing to strike as weapons were still drawn and you were refusing to do as he said. Seeing you as a threat, he struck Frode first as he was closest and blocking the door. His strike was true, causing Frode to begin bleeding quite badly as it hit some vital location, and as he struck Hysteria's dagger flew towards his hand and Kaswink began trying to break through the walls of the cottage. Hysteria's dagger successfully struck this mantis right in the hand, their hopes of disarming him were successful, though his rapier was still inside Frode's chest as he regripped and began to withdraw as Kaswink began grappling him. Kaswink was successful, this mantis was held for a moment, but as Kaswink grabbed hold of his arm a third, secret arm was revealed and stabbed her arm with a parrying dagger. From her wound grew a small horn, and her arms became wreathed in lightning from the blood that poured forth. Agave attempted to impede the movement of this interloper, keep him from moving, by erupting the earth around him. This damaged the house, and it did damage Logren as well, but he had further tricks up his sleeve. He broke free of Kaswink and flew from the cottage to behind Hysteria. As he retreated he also struck Kaswink, and with his new position behind Hysteria he began attacking them. This series of attacks cause Hysteria to begin bleeding as well.

Frode limped across the front lawn of this cottage, gushing blood and experiencing the devastating effect of this wound, but he was able to get close enough to attempt to again grapple Logren. Much like what happened against Kaswink, Frode was struck by a hidden arm. AND began making their way across the battlefield, stumbling through the disrupted ground, and making it far enough to lob some handaxes at this evasive opponent. Seeing that AND was alone, Logren broke free of the surrounding enemies Frode and Hysteria and made his way behind AND to strike them on a later turn. Kaswink took her time getting outside to join the party, and she was able to get next to Logren, transform into her Oni form, and begin unleashing a flurry of electrified attacks. The damage dealt to this mantis was noticable, but he continued to maintain his composure, only showing signs of emotion as Kaswink transformed, almost recognizing something about it. Meanwhile, Namina stepped outside just long enough to provide a beacon of hope to some of her allies with plans to provide some healing on future turns. Hysteria unleashed an arrow from across the battlefield, burning Logren with a magical bow they acquired from the The Citizens of Greed.

Logren continued maneuvering, dealing damage, making you all begin bleeding out, and you each began to collapse one after another starting with Kaswink, then Frode, and the rest of you were on the verge of collapsing save AND and Namina. As he was attacking Agave, AND was finally able to get up close and deliver their own blows. The series of attacks from AND, along with some unfortunate luck for Logren, led to him losing an arm and being forced to kneel himself in a delightful display of poetic justice. Logren was forced to his knees, bleeding from a stump at his side, and in his humiliation looked up at AND before stating as calmly as ever to everyone around him "You should have kneeled." Most of you were forced to your knees, unwillingly, and AND struggled internally for a moment before kneeling on their own and surrendering to this mantis. Satisfied with the conclusion, he began passing out healing potions and bandages to anyone on death's door, and called out to the empty carriage, "They have been disarmed, and they're ready to receive you."

Ilven's Grand Entrance

Materializing from near the carriage was an until-unseen six foot tall butterfly person. She had shocking, fiery, sunset Monarch butterfly wings, and her dress was a deep maroon and made of Dark red Coleus leaves with yellow trim. She had no weapons and carried no items of any kind, just her clothing and some rather regal bits of armor on her shoulders. Her skin was pale, and her face was partially obscured by an ornate mask. Who she was was mostly unknown, a mystery, though some assumptions were made and she had been seen before in a painting in Tympi's House. In particular, Kaswink greeted her simply by saying "Coward Lady...", though this was met with her continuing to smirk and looking down her nose at you all. Agave instead asked her who she was, and she replied by saying "You don't already know?" Kaswink assumed that this person is the one that took her, though she took offense to this, claiming she would never hurt Tympi (though never denying that she took her) and introduced herself as Tympi's Sister, Ilven. The conversation took a turn as Ilven revealed more of her hand, stating that you all were part of some sinister plot to destroy the forest, to hurt Tympi, and that there were signs and omens that suggest this as well. She said that any permanent gate into "your realm" would lead to the destruction of everything in the Spirit World. Frode called her a usurper, to which she again showed offence, claiming that Croak is the real usurper.

She continued explaining that she would happily help you all with your personal missions, but the permanent gate to bring more outsiders in would be something she opposes. She lamented Tympi's absense, reminiscing on how she would treat outsiders, but that anyone from outside the forest is a danger to how they live...and that she would do "anything" to protect it. She doesn't "trust" Tympi with so many outsiders flooding into this realm. While being accused of having never spoken to an outsider, Ilven claimed that she had spoken to outsiders before...and began to confuse Frode for Basil. She even healed Frode, thinking that he was a friendly outsider from her past. While Frode was experiencing the mysteries of a mistaken identity compounded by "all humans look the same" type racism, Kaswink subconsciously began using some strange magic. Without her entirely knowing, her hand raised up near Logren once again and showered him with a powder hoping to put him to sleep. It was unsuccessful, and he bonked her on the head again. Frode, mentioning that he works for a king, was delighted to hear that Ilven is the true leader of this forest. He produced his usual contracts and found them to be damaged, stabbed, bloody...an unfortunate consequence. Plans to make new contracts someday were debated though.

More unsettling signs were heard from Ilven, particularly that she's apparently the only one that knows what's best for her sister... Kaswink continued threatening Ilven, claiming that she'd like to get the one she hates in a room alone, though it was mostly met with confusion from Ilven. Kaswink's own threats were interrupted by a familiar though different voice escaping her mouth saying "picking butterfly wings out of my teeth!" Kaswink was swifly knocked out again by Logren at the request of Ilven, and this would-be queen extended an invitation to her base camp, Thera Relovut. While deciding how to proceed, Agave instead revealed his journal and flipped it to a particular page with a particularly sinister word. Upon seeing this word, Ilven nearly collapsed in pain. Grasping her temples and half crouching forward, she heard Agave's words as she attempted to as regal as possible. In response to Agave's questions about whether or not she knew those words, she seemed confused. She'd never seen this word before, she just wanted to protect her sister, and "Sometimes, when you wanna protect someone, bad things happen." Again, she grasped her head, still confused by what is going on, demanding to know what had been done to her. She eventually said that "It is not something anyone should know." She also asked why Agave would show her something like this if he knew what it does, and Agave revealed he just wanted to know if he could trust her, and that this word is something that you all bear.

The Carriage Ride

After some further discussion regarding how to proceed, and another cordial invitation from Ilven, you all agreed to head to Thera Relovut. Gesturing to the carriage, Ilven waited for you to hop inside. Those of you that got on first saw that it wasn't bigger on the inside, but that there was just room enough for yourself and one other person. Those of you on the outside saw that whoever got in disappeared from view completely. As more people got on, you didn't see your allies, and it was revealed that you were going to have some alone time with this lady of the forest.

AND Wildcloak - To AND, Ilven had this bit of information regarding spirals and the person that they are looking for. "The person that you're looking for might've just gone straight into this spiral situation... if you were hoping to go there yourself, you would have to be incredibly emotionally unheatlhy. Stress, mood swings, sleep deprived, depressive spirals, anxiety spirals, shame spirals... but there is also a way to get in without all that. It's a more permanent gate, but it still isn’t always there. You’ll have to ...please it, to some degree. If you’ve been through the forests you’ve likely heard the song of The Twisting Stumps. Horrible spirits, those stumps. If you are able to hold a tea party for them you could appease their spirits and open their gate. Issue is that you’ll need place settings for all of them, tea prepared to their liking, candles made from the twisting fat of a Twisted Hag, incense made from the twisting bark and resin of a particular tree that you can only find while in an altered mental state known only to my dear friend Simol and her Fruit Hags, and lots of time and patience to be able to get through this whole ordeal while listening to their song. Another, less consistent method would be The Gyre. At the eastern end of Spenolt's River is a lake...This lake has a chance of forming a massive gyre that flows from the outermost edges all the way to the center. Should this Gyre be active you do have a chance of getting into The Twisting Gate, but it can be a dangerous journey….from what i’ve heard, again, never been there myself...quite healthy."

Kaswink - To Kaswink, Ilven had the following to say about ...all that. While in the carriage, Kaswink first investigated to see if she sensed Logren's presence and discovered that he was sitting in the exact spot that she is sitting. Kaswink spent much of her time just staring out the window. "You have horns? Where did you get those?" "Not mine" "Whose?" "Hag said I was owned." "Owned by who?" "Whoever owns the horns." "Do you intend to find this person?" "I want to be free, not forced to hurt the people around me. if everyone goes with me it's probably going to get bad. thinking about sneaking away." "You're very powerful from what I've heard and seen, you're a valuable asset to your friends. Sneaking away would put them in more danger than you being there. I doubt you'll hurt them, if you're damaged you're probably already fighting something more dangerous." "Sometimes the person who owns me hurts them." "Have you ever heard of Moonleaf Tea? It's a very peculiar plant, only grows in moonlight and at the center of fairy rings. very hard to get to without disturbing the pixies that live nearby. If you can harvest it you can brew a special tea that lets you look inward and find a leash. Whatever owns you probably has a firm grasp on you, you should be able to see them if you see yourself." Kaswink also challenged Ilven's actions, saying that Tympi would not like the fighting or the hatred of Croak. That she wouldn't like how Ilven controls people. "Well, Tympi didn't always know what was best. When you want to keep something safe, sometimes you need to control it."

Agave - "So, you said you could help us find the spirit that would help with the blight?" "She wanders about, looking for help. Help with her blight. She sometimes comes further sound from her more preferred northern, drier climates such as the desert north of Spenolt's River. There is a vast, vast desert or Badlands type area north of the forest." Seeing Agave's eagerness to stop this blight she asked "How do you plan on getting back home? How will you save your village from this blight?" "I don't know what's causing it. No physical remedy was able to solve it, no sage or scholar could help with it. Something we cannot affect is causing it." "If there is a spiritual solution and you succeed, how will you know?" "We have a way to communicate with our home world. I imagine they will relay the information to me." "You trust these people to do this for you when they are bringers of darkness and destruction? How do I know that you aren't the cause of this blight rather than looking to solve it?" Agave just laughed, chuckled even, saying that such a notion is absurd. Ilven continued claiming that you all are some dastardly group looking to leach off her land. She then asked if Agave had seen any dark signs, to which Agave revealed some drawings that he had made of the Maze, particularly the paintings in The Gallery. Ilven then explained that she would like to show the group what she saw to lead to her actions, one of the dark signs. She said that she's physically incapable of describing what it is, something that you'd have to see to believe. She trusted Agave's words that he is out to save his people...and she believed that there is something that must be done to help all of you move forward.

Frode - How long has this butterfly lady been in charge? "I waited. I searched. I was leading search parties with my children to try to find Tympi after she was gone. When she wasn't found, when croak thought we should move forward with chosing a new leader so that things don't descend into chaos... I suggested that I should do it. A moot convened and said it should be him. I don't agree with that, I don't know who this Croak is. He wandered with us for a time, and he was friends with Tympi, but he is not a leader of anywhere in this land. He's not like me, or Simol, or Meli, or Spenolt...he's just a random frog that showed up one day. It doesn't make any sense. But it's been 50 years since she was gone." The conversation touched on outsiders, particularly how many come and how often. Frode asked about Basil as well. "Basil was sweet. He was so innocent. Normally other outsiders had some problem or trouble that led them to the Spirit World. Running from something, falling into a lake or an alley, or taking some mind altering substance. Accidents. Basil walked in on his own, though, he said he made a gate and he did it intentionally. He had no mental fatigue or age about him, he was just an innocent creature looking at a new land. I don't normally like outsiders, but I adored him and tried to watch after him after Tympi was taken away." "Who are you? Where did you come from?" "I think this place has been for a long time before I showed up. Tympi and I just kinda fell in. We were as much a traveler as any other caterpillar. I don't remember much about where I came from, I Just know that when I got here everything started to make sense. I don't think where i was before matters at least not to me. I care more about where I'm going." "What's your plan with Croak?" "I have a way to deal with that that'll help everybody, but it might put the forest in danger, and it might put her in danger. It'll be a lot harder to keep an eye on things, but it'll keep Croak happy, and it'll keep you all happy, and you'll be able to go and save your worlds. Where did you come from?" The conversation shifted tones a bit into the plague afflicting Frode's hometown of Voldaren, and with that it naturally led into religion. Frode mentioned that Ilmater has the answers to questions that cannot be answered, things that cannot be explained, as a god they are a font of insight. Ilven was excited to hear that somebody out there had answers to the questions that she seeks and demanded to know where to find this "Ilmater". After a lengthy explanation of prayer and bearing the burden's of the physical world, Frode offered Ilven some red thread. She took it after some more discussion and apprehension, particularly concerned about being tracked. Frode then suggested that the only thing that could be hiding from a god would be another god... "Do you think we're inside a god?" "Inside? No, we're on one. Do you not know the tales of Ulunor? She is the Spirit World. She's the light that brings about our growth, the light that guides us, she's the light that provides shadows so that the darkness she creates can let us hide or stay cool or whatever else you might do in shadows, it provides details. She's the balance. She's all of "The Ten", and all that remains...she keeps it all in check. If anything gets out of balance or too powerful, she...well, we don't want to find out." Frode suggested then that Ilven might be marching towards her own destruction, that she is bound to upset her god by going against her wishes, and brought up The Chained Man as an example.

The Statue at Thera Relovut

You all finally arrived at Thera Relovut, and Ilven invited you to exit the carriage first. She followed behind and began directing you toward a large tend nearby. You seemed to be at the center of a large camp with tents, stands selling fruits, crafts, services of various types as well. Everything looked very mobile. Near the larger tent was an area cordoned off with some rope and another tent at its center. She explained that she had something very important to show you, something that a scout had found 50 years ago just before Tympi vanished. She also said that she'd be showing you something even more shocking after the omen was seen. She just wanted you to understand her reasons. As she was opening this tent for you, she suddenly stopped. She looked in your direction, an odd expression on her face before asking "What are we doing? Why am I here?" On the other side of this tent entrance, you saw a statue of a small-statured humanoid being, probably about 4-5 feet tall, he…or possibly she is sitting and meditating. They’re without discernible features for either gender, or encompass all of them somehow. It’s unclear, and kinda irrelevant, but they’re meditating. The statue is situated on a disk with 10 lines of different lengths reaching out and touching 10 different symbols. Their eyes are closed and they’re facing away from an open book. There were some words carved into the stone book as well.

Agave attempted to read the text, and as he read the words in this book he began to loose vision, muscle control, and it took a lot of effort to finish reading. He found by the end of it that he was paralyzed and blinded by these words. "When Spirits in still waking bodies, crawling into the land where only the fae and fallen tread,
the light that is craved by all will be shrouded by a sky that hangs heavy upon the soul.
And when we reach for the horizon, hoping to embrace the new dawn,
it will instead pour on us a dark day which is bleaker than any night.” The rest of you, sans Frode, also read these words and found yourselves to all be blind and Hysteria was also paralyzed. Frode was the only person left with vision as Ilven began her next speech. "That's why we keep it protected at the center. This is where we set up our camp to protect this thing, and to prevent anyone else from getting to it. I went blind, deaf, fell asleep, and when I woke up I was still blind and couldn't hear. Incredibly disorienting. When I was recovered by one of my children, I went to find Simol. I brought up my concerns that outsiders were the thing that it spoke of. She used her hag magics to interpret it for me. And the path that she set me down would protect this forest, and it would protect my sister. I think it's time..." She then reached behind her as a jar appeared in her hand, "I think it's time that you decide what happens." Inside the jar, unknown to everyone but Frode, was a small purple comet moth, gently flapping its wings.

Monday, 3-21-2022