Session 31: Weresnails, The Unblinking Sein and Home at Last!
General Summary
Weresnails
The session began with some Weresnails getting absolutely destroyed by y'all. Namina helped Kaswink get back up and into the thick of things while Frode rejoined the group ready to fight once again. DAN and Frode ended up easily taking care of the one nearest Agave while Hysteria continued to shoot at another target that was late to the fight. Agave managed to control the battlefield with a well-placed wave of thunder. As the normal weresnails were dispatched and the supposed leader of this group based on how it was much taller and prettier than the rest had curled up into its shell and began shreaking after losing most of its eyestocks. Kaswink took this opportunity to flip this last snail over and begin demanding why it attacked you all.This glass-shell weresnail eventually crawled out of its shell as tensions began to calm. He spoke with a deep, rumbling voice, kinda, and tried to answer your questions as best as he could before running into the woods at his earliest convenience. He gladly provided his Satchel which contained a note detailing their mission, a map, information about their target (a weresnail named Spalsis), and religious iconography for a deity referred to as Mutsonomes. Satchel Contents
The Weresnail Satchel is a bag found on a Weresnail on Nurend 19, 308 while the Spiritual Travelers were helping Tympi find her way home.
The bag contained some insight about why these Weresnails might have attacked the group of travelers...or rather, perhaps it simply provided some insight into Weresnail Culture? A note was found in the bag with the following message:
“The plan is flawless! Just make sure you’re displaying the stolen icons of Mutsonomes, and please try to not attack anyone on the way…wouldn’t want any reason for them to not trust you. Follow the map and find Spalsis, time to put an end to that pretentious Hermit once and for all.”
It seems that the weresnails were not supposed to attack anyone along the way, however, the seemed to be unable to resist the temptation of a little highway robbery, as a treat.
In addition to this note, the satchel had a dossier about the mentioned Spalsis. Apparently he is an ancient hermit and the first of the weresnails. After being transformed at the hands of some sort of cozy cottage spirit, Spalsis went mad and started attacking everything he came across. This madness was short lived as he quickly came to realize what his disruptive behavior was doing to the forest and all that lived there. He devoted his life to a path of isolation, vegetarianism, respecting nature and being a hermit. His teachings were passed down to some of the weresnails that he had inadvertently created during his rampage, though some of these weresnails became feral as they rejected his teachings. Apparently Spalsis is a legendary figure amongst weresnails and others in The Gates. His height is often greatly exaggerated and inconsistent amongst descriptions. The dossier itself shifts between "11ft tall" and "large enough that his shell has a tree growing from it". One consistency amongst descriptions for this person involve his shell. It always has some amount of plantlife and sometimes even some animals living on it, this suggests that he spends a great deal of time sitting still, possibly meditating. His shell is also always described as having "10 spirals, each in a different direction". Spalsis's pacificst nature and his teachings are a point of ire for the more feral or otherwise aggressive weresnails. The aforementioned note suggests that they are killing him for this reason.
The bag also had a book of prayers, poetry and stories relating to Mutsonomes. This text provides some insight into this goddess that would have been otherwise lost on the less religious.
She is apparently part of a Voldaren trio of goddesses known as "The High Triplets" of which she is the goddess of Isolation, Hermits and Nature.
Along with this book there were also several icons of Mutsonomes mentioned in the note. It was gathered, because of this, that the friendly weresnails of the world likely worship Mutsonomes and follow the teachings of Spalsis.
Lastly, the stachel also had a rolled up map. A spiral marking indicates the likely location of the target: Spalsis, and a few landmarks were recognized almost immediately by Agave which all suggested that this hermit is incredibly far to the west.
Thankfully, a Mothlight Tree appears to be near this location, however, another big and dangerous tree is also nearby and very close to where the weresnails suspected the target to be. This tree was previously indicated by Croak when the Spiritual Travelers first spoke with him on Nurend 04, 308 as The Sleeping Oak. This tree is apparently incredibly massive and, as the name suggests, spends a lot of its time sleeping. The calming nature in the area of forest around this oak is so intense that all nearby animals, plants, spirits and the like are all sleeping as well.
When the tree awakens all the surrounding wildlife and spirits awaken as well. According to the dossier on Spalsis, it is said that plants, animals, monsters, spirits and the like all grow to a rather frightening size while near this tree if they spend too much time sleeping there. This note was included as a warning to the assassination team. It is unclear how they hoped to get to Spalsis without awakening the surrounding dangers, or without succumbing to the sleep themselves. Perhaps they weren't thinking that far ahead.
In addition to this note, the satchel had a dossier about the mentioned Spalsis. Apparently he is an ancient hermit and the first of the weresnails. After being transformed at the hands of some sort of cozy cottage spirit, Spalsis went mad and started attacking everything he came across. This madness was short lived as he quickly came to realize what his disruptive behavior was doing to the forest and all that lived there. He devoted his life to a path of isolation, vegetarianism, respecting nature and being a hermit. His teachings were passed down to some of the weresnails that he had inadvertently created during his rampage, though some of these weresnails became feral as they rejected his teachings. Apparently Spalsis is a legendary figure amongst weresnails and others in The Gates. His height is often greatly exaggerated and inconsistent amongst descriptions. The dossier itself shifts between "11ft tall" and "large enough that his shell has a tree growing from it". One consistency amongst descriptions for this person involve his shell. It always has some amount of plantlife and sometimes even some animals living on it, this suggests that he spends a great deal of time sitting still, possibly meditating. His shell is also always described as having "10 spirals, each in a different direction". Spalsis's pacificst nature and his teachings are a point of ire for the more feral or otherwise aggressive weresnails. The aforementioned note suggests that they are killing him for this reason.
With the satchel searched through and the weresnails defeated, more questions were had for Tympi at this time. Kaswink also began butchering at least one of these weresnails to eat its meat and use its shell for some project later on. Tympi confirmed that this "Spalsis" the note mentioned is a rather legendary figure in the forest. He's rarely ever seen -even with her incredibly prying eyes-, and the descriptions of him are farely accurate in that he is incredibly large and his shell does spiral in several directions. She confirmed that some weresnails are kind, seen in different cities as visiting hermits in search of supplies, and are often seen just wandering the woods. They usually keep to themselves and are strict pacifists, vegetarians, and seek solitude. Some weresnails, as seen in this encounter, are quite the opposite though and they should be avoided.
The Unblinking Sein
The journey inevitably continued with the cart back on the path heading west. Along the way, Hysteria began work on making a cure for Tympi's blindness. They performed a bizarre series of steps involving crafting a poison from the medicinal plant Tall Eye Grass in order to make an antidote for the poison. This antidote was also designed to be administered through some piercing or slashing injury much like an injury-based poison. Hysteria applied this blindness cure to Tympi and she seemed excited as her vision began to return. However, it only got to the point that she could begin to perceive light again, like looking through an incredibly blurry window with a small amount of light on the other side. She commended Hysteria for their efforts, though it seems whatever caused this was just a bit too powerful for such a cure. As you were about to reach the Mothlight Tree, the sound of a twig breaking somewhere in the forest could be heard. Wind rustled through the leaves in a similar direction and then another twig broke much closer to the cart. Agave, fearing that something was approaching quickly, overgrew the surrounding plantlife to create some exceedingly difficult terrain, though this proved unintentionally foolish as the sound of wings fluttering was heard immediately after this. These wings were shortly joined by the familiar, though distorted, voice of Ilven. It wheezed, drawing out each word longer than necessary and layered with countless other disembodied voices as well. Only two sentences were spoken in this cacophonous choir, "There is no escape. There is no way back.” The rest of what was heard throughout this combat was entirely within the minds of each individual.Immediately after Ilven's voice was heard the long snout and tongue of an anteater came into view. It was made up of shadows and was eventually joined by many additional disembodied mouths, eyes, snouts, tongues and the like. As the surrounding area was flooded with the strangely oil or ink-like black fog, some rather invasive and distressing thoughts began to enter the minds of each of you. This was the power of The Unblinking Sein. DAN - "You attempt to resist whatever this is and your mind is filled with the words “I will die here.” The words echo in your mind in your own internal monologue voice, as though they were your own thoughts. Beyond this, as your internal monologue is informing you of your own death you start to hear the voices of your friends, their mouths moving, and the fear begins to set in. Each of these people you’ve been traveling with start to look different, their bodies and outifts remain the same but their faces shift into a familiar visage: your lost brother." Frode - "You feel a foreign presence entering your mind, wriggling about like a worm between the folds of your brain. Your life begins flashing before your eyes. Your childhood friends, your parents, your wife, your children, all of their words to you are replaced with a horrific reminder that this is how your life is going to end. All the decisions in your life have led to this, and no one will know that you died in this way." Kaswink - "Who is Kaswink? The thoughts of your own death do fill your mind. “I will die here.” Though, who is dying here? Will the Oni be vanquished if you are killed by this creature, or will you just become weak enough that it gains control and fights your friends? “I will die here” or perhaps it is that “You will die here”, and the lines between you and the being that gives you power blur, and the darkness that begins to surround you only adds to the fear." Agave and Namina - "The air is thin, and with each breath your lungs burn on the thick inky black darkness that is seeping from everything. Your mind is growing foggy and worry is setting in that if you do not move from this spot you will die here. “I will die here” is the unfortunate reality of the situation." Hysteria - "These tendrils of inky darkness wrap around your limbs, your arms and legs are grabbed, and this being is trying to pull you to the ground. A sense of helplessness is coming over your mind, “this is how I die, I will die here.” is the most surface thought that can be put together, and it is incredibly intrusive."
Throughout this encounter the fear of this creature continued to grow and grow. Kaswink collapsed almost instantly after it appeared, and an effort to get her and everyone else back on the cart to run away together was made. Tympi spent as much energy as she could keeping her lantern lit and keeping the spirit at least marginally at bay. Frode attacked the creature but found that these attacks were of little consequence. DAN struck a couple of times before retreating back to the cart as well. Agave brought down the light of the moon once again as it did prove useful the last time this being was encountered, and Namina took the reigns and put all of her effort into commanding these salamanders to get everyone out of here as fast as possible. Hysteria helped pull Kaswink on the cart and spent their turns helping their comrades until the madness began to take hold. As the combat continued and you made your way further and further north, the fear began to cause strange things to happen. Each of you felt yourselves becomining isolated, alone and lost in the oil-like fog as the eyes and mouths around you continued to cause more fear. Some of you held on with meditation or prayer, though DAN in particular collapsed in near defeat before regaining their composure. Doing so nearly caused their true body to fall from the cart, though Frode was quick to catch them. In an effort to make the journey smoother, Namina used her magic to wilt the plantlife while also damaging the spirit. A line of less difficult terrain was made and a great deal of time was shaved from the journey. Throughout all this, Agave continued to channel his beam of moonlight, and this would nearly be his undoing as the spirit's attention was suddenly directed entirely towards him. A series of blows which failed to do any damage to his body instead rendered him nearly dead through exhaustion and fear alone. In the last moments of the chase, Agave collapsed as several of you remained in the realms of isolation within your own thoughts. The spirit was escaped, just barely, and the short distance to The Hidden Village of Mothlights allowed you all to at least calm down before Tympi lunged at the tree and brought you all into the blinding light once more.
Home at Last!
The blinding light faded, and in its place was a familiar sight: Mothlings and moths fluttering about in a cloud and flower filled village. You had finally made it back to the Mothlight Village, and Tympi had once again collapsed on the ground. A swarm of different adorable mothfolk surrounded her, though this sea was quickly parted as a group of important looking mothlings appeared to escort Tympi away, likely to her home. The rest of the mothlings either dispersed or followed Tympi, but a small group remained behind to personally thank you for your efforts. These that remained were quite familiar as they were the ones you had helped the last time you were here. Cali and Marae - Twins, ruby tiger moths, pondside paraphernaliaOffered you each one item from their shop Daxi - eyed hawkmoth, Treestump Tavern
Offered you all free drinks from her bar for life (in moderation). Dayae - white witch moth, Innkeep, inn the light place
Offered you all Free stay at his inn for life Cari - mothling child, yellow wings, met her at tympi’s house Unnamed Woman - Gave Namina the goop to fix her hand
Doesn’t have much to offer besides some apothecary knowledge. Recipes for various potions, poultices and the like for forest plants Now you all have some time to do whatever you want, several days of rest and downtime.
Bonus Track: The Camp Directors Arrive
As the Spiritual Travelers entered the Mothlight Village, another blinding light was being experienced by a separate group of travelers. New outsiders were arriving through a newly reopened gate somewhere in this forest. The light pierced the clouds and exposed the sky which had been perpetually hidden until that moment, and through this gate stepped several wacky characters joined by the Expedition Team's benefactor: Quince. Along with the Camp Directors, a multitude of what tourists also stepped through this gate. Hopes to build a base camp around this new gate, soon to be known as the Gate Camp, were had and construction is already underway with the help of all these laborers.
In-Game Date:
Nurend 19, 308
Encountered Spirits
The Unblinking Sein
Mentioned Characters
Spalsis, The Spiral Hermit
Acquired Items
Weresnail Satchel
Discovered Recipes
Blindness Cure
Mentioned Deities
Mutsonomes
Nurend 19, 308
Report Date
30 May 2022
Primary Location
Secondary Location
Related Plots
Related Characters
The Unblinking Sein
Mentioned Characters
Spalsis, The Spiral Hermit
Acquired Items
Weresnail Satchel
Discovered Recipes
Blindness Cure
Mentioned Deities
Mutsonomes
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