Session 32: Meet the Camp Directors, the Page of Pentacles, Strange Stones and Simol!

General Summary

Meet the Camp Directors

The session began with some introductions amongst the Camp Directors in the currently in-progress Gate Camp. We all learned a great deal about this wacky group of responsible adults in charge of other people's lives while they are in the Spirit World. Most notably that at least two of them are apparently easily capable of consuming humanoid flesh and several of them have a disdain for living beings.

Elmgrove in particular has a rather stern bigotry toward the living as he believes that all others are trying to kill his forest. He especially hates the fae and distrusts all other humanoids. He'll eat anything he catches including people and plans on doing as much damage as he can while in the Spirit World. Garçon is an old soul and is sometimes seen petting the air around him. He claims to have been around for several thousands of years, and not always in the form he is in now. He also claims to not be from "this plane of existence", whatever that means, and is never in much of a hurry. He was compared to an old reliable form of tech that just doesn't really need to be upgraded or gotten rid of. Koggins is the self-proclaimed Trash King. He is not only good at finding trash but at making money as well. Apparently his money "just disappears", though this might have something to do with his gambling and drinking addictions. He likes being in the forest because it feels like a big trash pile, and the Spirit World is one of the biggest trash piles around. He claims to be an expert tactition. Lark is rather antisocial, tends to not talk to folk if he can help it and won't acknowledge a conversation if he isn't directly being interacted with. When first introducing himself he seemed to be putting on a bit of a show but quickly changed in demeanor throughout the rest of the introduction. He claims that "whatever happened to his eye" was just an accident, he has no idea why he's even here...though perhaps his spirituality has something to do with it as a cleric and his later revealed connections to Selch might've also been why Quince sought him out. Lenny introduced themselves using a tape recorder of some research notes from the famed Remlit ecology expert Constance Gregorfax. He's apparently capable of great destructive powers, is the other member of the group willing to eat humanoid flesh, but is normally quite friendly. They have an unusual way of speaking and moving, his actions are very similar to how one might observe or try to record a cryptid, and he's apparently been around for millions of years watching the evolutions and ecological balances of the world. Nori was not introduced, but was probably introduced off camera while the cameraperson was distracted by the strange blurry alligator that they just couldn't quite capture on their film.

Pleasantries were exchanged, questions were asked, and personalities were developed. Garçon tried to get Elmgrove to join in on the conversation around the fire, though Elmgrove seemed confused as to how his coworker of several days had discovered his name. It seems the wood elf was incredibly secretive and distrusting of them, though Garçon explained that the "birds do hear things" and apologized for the apparent foux pas. Elmgrove did confirm this eventually however, and the conversation lightened up. Koggins began complaining about the lack of trash in the camp to which Garçon explained he had done some cleaning. Lenny suggested that there might be something stuck in their moss, and Koggins's excitement was apparent. Lenny did have many an oddity, mostly animal remains, stuck in the moss and slime that covers his body. The discussion shifted to food as Lenny was hoping to consume somebody though everybody in camp was off limits and likely not evil. Goals of finding evil folk to eat were planned or perhaps just other food like buffalo or some sort of fowl. Suggestions were brought up about hunting fae and eating them, though Garçon had some objections as they would both be "not very substantial" and it would be kinda rude to hunt sentient beings. Koggins suggested eating bugs, which Garçon had no objections to, calling it "morally neutral". This excited Koggins as a favorite meal is something he calls "Worm Spaghetti", a rather simple recipe where you simply dig into the mud and hope to get some spaghetti. Though, as the name suggests, it is mostly just worms as Koggins has never actually succeeding in pulling spaghetti from the earth. Conversation continued to shift around the bizarre diets of the group, and it was again discovered that we have two "cannibals" and most of the group hates humans. Would people really do that? Just go on their resumes or interviews and tell lies?

Koggins, sensing a long enough lull in the conversation and that Lark, then referred to by Koggins as "Rock Boy", was distancing himself, decided to approach the goliath with hopes of forced gambling. He instructed Lark "Roll these dice." The game was extraordinarily simple: Roll two six-sided dice and hope for the number seven. If you roll a seven, then you "feel good, and somebody gives you money". If you happen to roll anything else then you lose or "you shoot someone, because someone else will ask you for money". Lark's first attempt at the game would be deemed "free" and nobody would need to get shot. The dice were rolled and Lark's first result showed Snake Eyes. Koggins became worried, announcing the result and explaining to Lark that he's very unlucky before running away. Lark was uneasy about this, but Lenny promised to keep him safe. The imposing form of this alligator person far more intimidating than the gambling goblin that just ran from him. Their unusual cryptic movement and creepy eyes causing Lark to stumble over his thanks and understanding before he left to go do some mindless work away from the other directors.

The Page of Pentacles

The morning debauchery was interrupted by the first visitor.

The first noticeable feature about this person was the rather large centipede firmly attached to her face. This centipede started at the side of her face just beneath her eye, wrapped around her ear, around her neck, and then down her back. She had messy black hair with green eyes, antennae growing from her forehead, and a pair of mandibles on either side of her mouth. Her ears were pointed, similar to an elf's but not as pointed. She wore a simple white knee-length tunic with a gold cord wrapped around her waist. In her left hand she held a large gold coin with a pentacle carved into the exposed side. This coin was always visible to whoever she is facing as her palm is turned toward them with her hand tightly gripping the coin with the tips of her fingers. She also had another pentacle hanging from her neck with the help of a simple, thin, off-white rope. She introduced herself as the Page of Pentacles and provided a brief summary of why she was in this camp. As she spoke, an unusual chittering noise filled the minds of all the Camp Directors, almost surrounding the ears though definitely coming from this person. Directly on top of this chittering was a distinctly feminine voice though. “We have seen your arrival. You have come to a very dangerous place, mortals, and we would like to help you.” Elmgrove was quick to act at the sight of this being and decided to scan the surrounding six miles for any signs of various sinister-sounding creatures. He detected the presence of fae within that range, though was unsure what direction or how far away.

Lenny was the first to really speak up in the presence of this stranger, his first question cutting right to the point and asking what she can do to help you all. “We offer protection. Choices, decisions, of course you could always take both. There are gifts we can give in the form of journals that keep your memories safe from anyone that would dare steal them. There are blessings we can give that would bolster your willpower and keep your mind safe while it is otherwise unguarded. If these are of interest to you, then we would gladly provide.” Lenny mentioned that the Expedition Team had reported spirits that can force groups to fight each other, and that these protections that this person is offering could be beneficial. Elmgrove had little interest, but Koggins was curious if any of what she was offering looked like trash. She confirmed that she has many styles of journal, including a rather damaged looking one, and explained how they work. "It’s quite simple really. You just write in it each day like you would any diary or journal and the magic it is enchanted with prevents anyone from taking it from you. Though, this does come at the cost of forgetting the memory while it is in the journal. Of course, you could always read the old passages to temporarily remember, but once the book closes, well…*she shrugged* out of sight, out of mind, as it were.” Koggins stepped toward the Page and confirmed that it does, indeed, sound like a "trash deal". Lenny had further questions, wanted to know if the blessing or journal cost anything. The Page explained that there is no cost and continued to provide some information explanation about the blessing as well. “It’s quite simple. Have you ever heard of magic? Well, our magic comes from a divine. And we can use this divine power to bless your people, preventing them from being attacked when they are vulnerable…well, maybe not “prevent” entirely, it just helps… it is still partially up to the will of the individual. We are what you might consider…a bishop. No cost from you, just a simple ritual.” Koggins was still curious, and had another question, he wanted to know when the group of camp directors would get paid. The Page was incredibly confused by this and wanted to know when you all would get paid. It seems that the goblin wanted additional payment along with the blessing or journal. Elmgrove suggested that she could be a fae, though the Page denied this and Lenny ended up accepting the Blessing. The Page also agreed to give Koggins some gold as she produced a sizeable bag of coins and gems from behind her. This caused Koggins to begin creating a deal amongst the group regarding how to split the money with worries of any prices being tied to something free being instantly forgotten.

While negotiations proceeded amongst the group, the Page grew bored and decided to begin making her offer to the tourists throughout the camp. Most of them accepted either the journal or the blessing, but any elves were decidedly untrusting. Elmgrove followed her as she made her rounds, and he decided to try capturing her. He set up a trap using some rope and magic with hopes of snaring her like a wild animal. She seemed to hesitate as she was approaching the trap, but still proceeded forward. The snare tightened as it wrapped around her leg, it pulled her up and upside down, but then something unusual happened. Rather than keeping her suspended in the air, her foot instead broke free of the rest of her body before falling apart. Each piece that fell became a swarm of bugs which just crawled on the ground rather innocently until rejoining with the Page. They slowly reformed the shape of a foot as skin also began to regrow as well. Elmgrove demanded that she speak, and she did, though she was confused. She wanted to know what it was that he wanted her to say, and that same chittering that always accompanies her voice was still surrounding Elmgrove's head. He accused her of being coy and demanded who she was again. “We are an ally. We wish only to provide you and your people much needed protection against those that would wish to harm you or take from you what isn’t theirs. Thieves of not only material goods but also memories, personalities, names and more.” Elmgrove summoned the rest of the directors with a short whistle. Lenny wanted to help her up, but Elmgrove instructed them not to help her up, explaining that she "isn't human". Lenny and Koggins were on the Page's side though, saying that she wants to help and that you shouldn't desecrate this place or its people. Lenny also explained a bit more about what he knows. "She's trying to help us. I've been around. Recently things have been going missing like she said, thieves stealing things. Forests regrow overnight, people enlightened from one day to another with no work. Things have been out of balance, she's trying to help." Koggins and Lenny debated some of their philosophies regarding life, and the usefulness of this person. Koggins in particular seems to have already forgotten about the gold he was offered as he seemed to believe he'd only be getting a bit more forgetful. Their debate was cut short, however, as Elmgrove demanded more information from the Page. He asked her why she came to this camp disguised "as a human when she's clearly not". "Oh, we were never disguised as a human. Our people, when they had a name, were the L’huine. We devoted ourselves to our deities, though perhaps ours is not a god at all. It is more of a … force of nature. An essential part of the world, a necessity that persists behind the scenes. It is often hated, mostly by those that do not understand, but it is capable of providing great blessings to those that can hear and listen and speak to its form. We are just as much it as it is us, influencing each other, pulling in one direction or the other, against and together. Its name is unspeakable, but we call it Cievka, the Smrtohnya of Coils."

Elmgrove began to relax, the Page apologized for the distrust and began to spread more of the blessings and journals. Those that receive the blessing, including Lenny and Garçon would've experienced the following: The blessing was a short ritual. It started with her raising her hand with the coin in the direction of the target as a pentacle began to form beneath their feet. As the pentacle finishes forming, a bug can be felt crawling in the mouth of the target which tries to go down their throat. It is uncomfortable, but quickly passes and then for a few seconds they are deaf and blind before both their vision and hearing returns almost immediately. As the ritual concludes the target's mouth becomes very dry. Elmgrove was able to determine that Lenny was not charmed by this person, at least no magically, and as she made her way around the camp again she eventually stopped once more at Koggins. She re-offered the bag that had caused some discourse previously. It was quite heavy, filled with coins and gems. Koggins accepted it, though he seemed keen on getting more as he called the bag "light" despite it being...free. She was confused, but Koggins explained that he would be providing a "valuable service" in that he is the trash explorer extraordinaire. She agreed that she should pay him more and the bag suddenly became heavier, larger, and Koggins seemed excited. He greedily accepted the offer of material goods, and Koggins still demanded more as he asked for a centipede to eat. She laughed, pulled a centipede out of her leg in a particularly gruesome manner, and handed it to Koggins. The last person she spoke to was Lark. He refused the blessing, claiming that the last time he accepted something everything changed. Apparently he didn't want any more powers regardless of whether they are good or bad. He accepted a journal, rather awkwardly, and ended up dispelling the book after taking it. No magic for this cleric! The Page then began to make her departure. Lenny stopped her briefly to ask her her name. She was confused briefly, but explained that she has the title of "Page of Pentacles", but that she once had a name: šiaeýlnlýeaiš, which, per her own admission, is "Mostly just gibberish". As she left, she waved at the lot of you. As she did so, her arm split into several smaller centipede limbs which waved at each person.

Strange Stones

Before he was interrupted by offerings from the Page, Lark discovered some writing on one of the many large stones in the Gate Camp. He began copying all the writing on these stones by making rubbings of them. As he was wandering about doing this, Koggins was eagerly looking over his loot. He examined the gems and coins, and discovered that they are all legitimate. All the coins were made of platinum, there was some platinum dust, gems of all colors and sizes. He threw another bag on the ground and claimed that it was the rest of the group's cut of a total of "120,000". The loot was divided. Lenny put some sharper "silver" gems into their gums as makeshift teeth, Garçon accepted a modest emerald to be affixed to his chest, "Mr. Sad Sack", AKA "Rock Man" AKA "Larky Mark" AKA Lark, accepted some emeralds as the "purple one" reminded him too much of lightning. He plans on putting these emeralds into his bident. Lark also decided to show the symbols he had copied from the stones to Koggins. Koggins claimed that it is a magic circle, part of a really powerful magic spell that could end the universe so it's best to "use it judiciously". Koggins reaffirmed this by suggesting that since he gave Lark gems he should be trusted. He also provided the magic words for the spell and described the hand movements required for it to work. Apparently this summons a very powerful ally to your side which "may or may not be Koggins the Goblin" as he is apparently "at least a 9th level spell". Lark attempted to use this spell, and as he finished the hand movements and words, Koggins lept into view with a great deal of pizzazz. Lark was still skeptical, however, and went to demonstrate to the rest of the group. Meanwhile, Lenny tried to bite the rock, but it proved to be...incredibly durable. Way tougher than anything Lenny has ever bit in their cave, and biting this stone just hurt a lot. Lenny tried to determine what might have caused this by detecting magic on the stone, and he discovered that the words and the lines that frame those words are all magical, like the magic was flowing through the carvings. The rock itself, however, was not magical at all.

The stones and notebook that Lark had been working on eventually made their way to Elmgrove. He was able to read the words, though they were of an unusual dialect and font which almost made it look like a completely different alphabet. The words of the first page he looked at all seemed to be of different topics, like each time the writer reached a new word they had to start talking about something else, really bad word association almost from someone with really bad mental issues. All of it was written in a way that suggested future tense, making it seem like there may be a prophecy hidden amongst the madness. Elmgrove suggested waiting to throw it into the portal, and stated that it isn't dangerous but rather just gibberish. He decided to use Lark's copies of the stones to piece together the whole puzzle, and he discovered the entire writing and shape, at least for the pieces here, and found that they all seem to make a Tower. "Prophecy"

The god cries, the anguish, tears, will tear like paper, will be filled with a list of what is soon to be needed, a reminder, things to come, things that must not be forgotten, onions, potatoes, some meat, more meat, tomatoes, aching in my feet, extremities, extremes, the last things that we will think, the thoughts that we no longer will feel in this place that will no longer be protected, the man that once protected us and no longer did and will some day but can no longer, as his mind will twist and turn around these lost alleyways behind these buildings that I have yet to have the builders build where we were in the lost times that we had, halved, half, notes that we forgot to write down, towards the ground, the place I heard it cry will hear it cry, my ears will bleed and I know that I Must have written something down or will forget it and forgot it and will remember it, like memories that were stolen, by the host, a party, the party host, not me, I don't do that kind of thing, I don't host, but the one that will be the host is a most terrible host, we will no longer embody, but it will embody us, or it will have our bodies, the bodies that are going to be lost to the ages that were now forgotten to play, and the time that we lost playing outside away from the rain, the reign, his reign, soon to be shared by theirs, they will take on the his and the hers, titles of both a king and a queen, titles lost to others, that only they can have what they have, that only we can lose what we have, that the god will cry out not for us but for another lost to saving us, but she won't be alone, he will be with her again, and we will all be dead.

Elmgrove looked around the area for a spot that the structure could've been. He eventually found some of the remains that were still in the ground, though buried, and found evidence that it was once attached to the Gate. The Gate did have more writing on it, simple magical incantations written in more modern Elven, and didn't entirely match the structure that was once there despite the previously mentioned likelihood of being attached to this far more ancient tower. There was talk of the writing perhaps being a protection or a warning against things that might cause madness. Lenny suggested again to throw it through the portal, though Elmgrove felt as though putting the poison, if it even is poisonous, in your own world might be a bit risky. Though, the idea hasn't been completely tabled as it is possible that better tech might be able to study it there, or perhaps that separating the stones from whatever can use it would be beneficial as well.

Simol

As the Gate as being inspected, the sound of rattling bones, shifting cloth that seemed dry, filthy and old, heavy breathing and footsteps could all be heard. This visitor didn’t seem to have much of a shape at first, just a pile of rags and a robe, some ropes, some bells, roots, bones all just hanging off this amorphous mass of cloth. It was wearing a headdress, hunched over with its head facing downward so all that is seen is this hood with three horns pointing out from a mass of fur and bones. As she got closer she eventually looked up to make eye contact with you and you saw, for the first time, an incredibly elderly female face. The strange figure waved and made some form of introduction. “Come, let us sit down, drink, smoke, eat and know each other’s truths. We should be friends, and friends love to drink together. The vapors will bring us closer, and we can share in prophecy for which I have grave warnings for you all.” She demanded a tent, a place to light incense so that it doesn't drift away. She interacted primarily with Lenny, even going so far as to scoop some of his moss off of their flesh to rub into her own flesh. Lenny procured a tent for the ritual of merry-making, and the old woman continued demanding the attention of the more aloof directors. "Come, Come, are you all shy? You should not be shy of Simol. Simol is queen, queen of hags, Empress even! You made quite the light show, and now all my sisters, children, creations are all interested in who you are and where you came from. Connections must be made so that what I say makes sense." Garçon and Lenny seemed to be the most willing at first, with Elmgrove and Lark being incredibly untrusting or uninterested. Lark, while keen on observing, did not want to breathe in the smoke or be sealed inside a tent, and he seemed to have some issue with listening to an authority figure. When Simol pressed him to participate and even offered a helping hand through it he seemed to make a connection between her and "someone he used to know". Lark continued to ask questions, showing some distrust, and when Simol mentioned "connections" again, he denied any interest in food or drink. Koggins even tried sneaking up on her, and while she didn't seem to look in his direction at any point, a strange flower with an eye at its center did sprout from the roots in her hair to look at him. Despite the weird flower looking at him, Simol never did turn to look at Koggins herself. Elmgrove, meanwhile, spent his time pointing an arrow at Simol.

Within the tent, Simol began to set up the fruit and veggie spread along with some sticks of incense. The produce had mostly innocent looking fruits and vegetables, some roots. On closer inspection they were all slightly off. In particular, there were unusual patterns which resembled eyes or hands reaching up and stretching around the fruit. The celery had the appearance of bones, and some of them were likely rotten. She gestured for those interested to take a seat, and Lenny immediately began placing food in his mouth. Garçon took a seat, and Koggins was eventually talked into joining in due to the trashy nature of the food. He sat down, and immediately shoved some dice into Simol's face demanding she roll them. Simol was curious what they would be betting, and Koggins produced 5 gemstones. Simol agreed and anted up a blackberry vine with some berries starting to grow due to the season. She explained that it is "kinda magical, but also really delicious". Koggins ended up winning and the Camp Directors gained a weird plant. Apparently it will feed off of the blood of whoever pricks their finger on the thorns, and the berries will be empowered by that blood and bound to the person. The produce was delicious, the incense smelled kinda weird but it was relaxing, and it all came together to make an incredibly detached experience. There were moments that you swear your perspective was floating around the room looking at yourself and all your coworkers, and there were moments that you weren’t sure if you were speaking or just thinking. Filters were removed, secrets sometimes confessed, or not? Who knows? Laughter was heard, it echoed around your minds, around the tent, and the sickening, swirling, rolling feeling on your consciousness just kept shifting. At some point during all this, or perhaps stretched out throughout the entire session, you heard several words that all blended together into several unusual stanzas despite how far apart they might’ve been. Some of the words felt like they were once just answers to unrelated questions, and some of them felt like unprompted and intrusive thoughts from your time in the tent. And some even felt like they were spoken to you by a piece of melon the very moment you bit into it. In the darkest depths the mind is wandering
Drinking from the wells, a promise, an offering
Lost, you’ll find your way
Or taken, you’ll step and sway A beast uncoils, making new forms and folds
Its shell rises, each spike a spire a tale untold
Its being devours, a secret forgotten
Reveals a mind unraveling, a land rotten You will see the ones you raised
Walking far from your provided grace
Their minds like one whose sins are vast
Their hollowed selves now a stolen past

After all this, those in the tent exited back into the light of the late afternoon. Simol tried to tuck a jar into her rag-covered frame, but Lenny spotted it and inquired about the new object. She revealed it, and you were able to see a jar filled with incense smoke and a couple vials of blood, she explained that she "captured the moment as payment". To help those of you that didn't participate, she offered to sign you all up for the "premium service", though it would cost some blood. Lenny offered theirs, and Simol graciously accepted. The blood was drawn, container filled, and as it was being handed to her she produced a framed version of the prophecy with a very classy font. The session ended with Simol leaving the Gate Camp.

Session Recording, June 06, 2022