Session 41: The Tea Party and an Unexpected Guest

General Summary

The Tea Party

Note: Any reference to "Cursed Knowledge" is known only by the person it was provided to. Reading it would be metaknowledge as it cannot be written down or communicated without immense pain and suffering.
The previous session ended with the Chittering Spirit being summoned utilizing a Tea Party led by Namina. The goal was to speak with the supposed cause of this explosion and get some insight on that as well as other strange events that came to mind. As the creature appeared, it began to fill your minds with that familiar Chittering noise that some of you had heard ever since the Tree Spirit beneath the Abandoned Goblin Village in Garlem. The Spirit originally appeared as the shadow of a rather large though mundane centipede, but it continued to grow as it coiled and uncoiled itself around the Gate Camp until even the smallest segments were the size of your entire tea part setup.

Despite being unconscious, DAN Wildcloak was able to see the spirit's arrival and movements as though their dreams were being "cut out" in the exact same movement and shape as the spirit in the real world. They were also able to witness and understand some of the communications made by the spirit.
It eventually "peeled" itself away from the surface causing its shadowy form to become more concrete and tangible. Its chitin and limbs clearly visible along with some unusual details that you wouldn't expect to see on an ordinary centipede. Its belly was lined with faces that were contorted in anguish and were sometimes heard screaming between the chittering noises the creature perpetually emitted. Its own face was "humanoid" as well, though its mouth had no lips and it was lacking any nose. Its teeth were like needles, interlocking and massive which caused its lipless mouth to stretch over them whenever it "smiled". Its eyes were literal nothingness, impossible to comprehend, and its hair was tangled, oily and hanging in matted threads all over its body.
When tea was offered it graciously accepted as a good guest would. To drink the tea it created small and thin shadow arms with palmless hands made up of wire-like fingers. As it "drank" the tea would slowly vanish from the cup as if being sipped, and it would politely accept additional servings when offered. All-in-all it was surprisingly polite and even made small talk with Namina as the rest of you discussed how to proceed.

---

Namina started the party off introducing herself and treating the Spirit like an old friend. Agave dashed onto the scene as a hyena after hearing the chittering and screaming coming from this Spirit. He was horrified to see everything that was unfolding, but Kaswink helped by explaining the situation a little bit. He was baffled and amused by the concept of the entire Tea Party situation.

The remaining of you that hadn't already introduced yourselves did so, and when Hysteria introduced themselves with their elven sign language, the Spirit was able to communicate in the exact same way. It thank Hysteria for the introduction...though the use of this language seemed to disturb Hysteria, and it continued using it throughout the conversation.
It also attempted to provide an introduction of its own. Though its name seemed to just be the same horrendous chittering and screams but far louder and more maddening, and Namina requested a name that can actually be pronounced or understood. It replied with the name Ò̵̆ͅO̸͙̰͉̍S̶̠͛͆͛͑R̴̠̅̈̇͝C̷̨̳͗̒̈́̎N̶͇̣͌̌̄̀Ǔ̷͇S̴̤͠ͅḪ̷̓͐U̸͙̳͐̓̈́̓

Choronusus

which was understandable but also incredibly painful to hear as most of you were somewhat aware of.

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Namina's Inquiry

Namina began, "I summoned you because of this Gate. I wanted to see what would come out of it if I reached out to a Spirit as it seemed like a catastrophe was brewing from the explosion. I was wondering if we could talk about this and perhaps talk about past experiences with each other."
The Spirit seemed confused, and Namina was happy to clarify by asking if It was the cause for the explosion. The Spirit confirmed by saying "Not intentionally."
Namina accepted this, and the discussion leaned into "Forces of Nature" which the Spirit claimed to be. It asserted that its actions were beyond its control, that it just happens as Nature happens, and Namina wanted to know if this Spirit knew "her Trench Mother". It seemed familiar, saying some keywords to identify the deity. It seemed confused though, wondering what it had to do with this deity and why the question was being asked. She explained that this Spirit and her Deity are both forces of nature...not bad or good, just things that happen regardless.

Agave's Inquiry

Agave began, "If you don't mind me asking, have you ever met someone that looks like me before? I think that someone from my village came here many many years ago and knows of you." He also displayed the notebook and Fountain Pen he had found.
The Spirit smiled, grotesquely with two full rows of teeth on display due to its facial anatomy. "Many comes to this world. It is less that I know them, and more that they slowly come to know me, but it is not my goal to have them seek me out, but sometimes when they do...the consequences are unfortunate. What did you want to know about this critter?"
Agave desired to know when this person was in the Spirit World, and the Spirit was momentarily baffled by this question, calling it "strange", and replied in an overly specific manner claiming the one that Agave seeks was "15,380 days ago." The Spirit also asked Agave if they "would like to know this person", which Agave confirmed.
A piece of the shadow lifted from the ground, forming an arm like the ones that were currently holding Its teacup. The hand shifted though, becoming a massive centipede limb with disjointed segments that began to approach Agave's head. As it touched Agave it turned back into shadows and melded with the rest of Itself. Agave was suddenly filled with memories that weren't his own, but could've been...they were strangely perfect to the point that Agave was questioning who he was. Thankfully, he managed to hold onto himself and recognized that he was indeed Agave learning about another Murid and sorted everything out.

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Explain Yourself!

The conversation turned towards just who this Chittering Spirit is. Some history began to be unpacked about it, particularly about its strange ability to remove itself from people's memories.
"You mentioned a force of nature, your Trench Mother. I am a Spirit born from nothing but a desire of a single person. Though this person wanted to be forgotten, and to die, His desire to do so was carried with Immense Pain. His world had died, and it is the first I carried. The memories of His people are what form my body. So, while I seek the memories of others to preserve them, I am also a hope to be forgotten. I have a paradoxical existence, you could say, but my intentions, however outside of my control, are pure."
"What do you suppose happens to a world when it dies?"
This question received a response from a few of you. Namina stated that she believes a world never truly dies, while Agave explained that his people are facing death... a death that can spread and end his whole world. The spirit continued with Its own answer.

"What I am going to tell you is going to be shocking, aggravating, perhaps even enraging…but it is necessary for you to know the fate of all worlds. The reality of the situation is that the cycle is broken already. It is less a circle bringing those that died back to another life and more a funnel dragging those dead souls into oblivion. They all die. The worlds I have seen and were unable to save are all the same: A desolate landscape, a sun that has gone dark, and no hope for life. No memories of the land remain. No souls of the fallen are going through any cycle. Nothing is left…and it will happen everywhere."

---

Namina, despite wanting to believe the Cycle is going to keep worlds alive, revealed that she knows this...but that she isn't fighting just for her world, but for the next world so that it has a fighting chance. She'll do it, no matter what it costs, for "her" and for all future mortals.
Agave had a question, he wanted to know if the Spirit had memories of other dead worlds.
"I have worlds inside me, and they will never die. What makes a person and a world is not their bodies or the souls, it’s the memories of those things. An entire world could be stored inside the memories of just a few people…and if one could somehow preserve those memories forever, then the civilization, the culture and the people are all endless."

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Kaswink's Inquiry

Kaswink began, "At the risk of sounding rude. Um. Are you perhaps associated with The Spiral Gate?
The Spirit was confused by what could be rude about such a question, and explained that It "is that Gate." She was satisfied with the answer and explained that this might not be the last time they see each other. The Spirit agreed, and continued...
"I agree. I hope that when we cross paths it would be as allies. I want to save your world. Though, the process can be … unsettling to witness. There will be no real difference between the world you have now and the one held within me…though accessing outer planes and other worlds might become incredibly difficult. As the memories are transferred, those that still live will feel like they are losing themselves little by little."
Kaswink also wanted to know if this Spirit had any information about "The one that has a claim on her".
The Spirit grimaced in its strange lipless smile yet again. Its chittering began to wrap around Kaswink's mind, filling it with Cursed Knowledge. This knowledge seemed to hurt Kaswink a bit, but as she was injured she strangely did not transform into her usual Oni-like state. She became exhausted from this information, but she managed to retain it.
Kaswink's Cursed Knowledge

"You have already found the one that has a hold of your heart. You have a piece of them in a jar, a bullfrog, and a hag that is a friend of the forest. It has many forms and many personas. Be careful when you seek it out, and know that my General is hungry for power beyond its normal means... power that only I should have or be capable of having."

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Namina's Inquiry 2: This Time it's Impossible

Namina had a follow-up question, "Do you have any advice on how to make the cycle not a funnel? How can I make it a Circle? If it's not this World, that's okay, but how can I ensure the next one is?"
The Spirit was straightforward, directly saying that such a task is impossible, but Namina wanted to know more.

"You're already on a path that would get you closer, and your friends will bring you to the next step which will involve dealing with some "confidential information". When you pass the hurdle that is retrieving the One that is Lost, and when you defeat the One that is Caged, and vanquish The Usurper...then you will find yourselves at the Edge of The World ready to jump into your doom. Only then will the cycle be repaired."
As It said these words, its "nothingness eyes" began to dissolve the rest of Its head, dissolving its corporeal form into more nothingness. At its center was darkness, some stars, and a light. Circling around in this space were three pieces of a crown which resembled the Unusual Fragment and Another Unusual Fragment that had been found by you all. Perhaps as connection to The King.
As it mentioned the "One that is Lost", DAN received a vision while sleeping of the same farm they had visited inside the outhouse. However, the buildings were all replaced with a massive obelisk wrapped in chains with a throne at its base. The throne had a small-sized humanoid recognizable as Steve crouching and shaking in an upright fetal position as he screams.
As it mentioned "The Caged One" it formed shadowy chains that wrapped around Kaswink.
As it mentioned "The Usurper" it formed shadows into a greatsword, a banner and a crown that placed themselves in Hysteria's hand and on their head.

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Hysteria's Inquiry

Hysteria, after Namina asked them if they wanted to ask anything, began, "If I could ask something in private..."
The Spirit obliged, and "allowed" Hysteria to ask their question out of sight of the rest of the group. They asked the Spirit "Do you know where the one I hunt is?"
It replied, directly into Hysteria's mind, with an immense amount of information. The "words" that were represented in more chittering and screams seemed to be transmitted in such a way that it seemed to be making something physical inside of Hysteria's mind, and they saw the Spirit grin in its same grotesque way, but inside of their head. It said "I have already given you that information." Hysteria contested, and the Spirit offered to just tell them straight away, but it wouldn't be as fun.
Similar to when Kaswink received some Cursed Knowledge, Hysteria seemed to be hurt by this information. They had to strain to even remember what was said, and a look of agony came across their mask. The information they received was the following:
Hysteria's Cursed Knowledge

"The one you seek is no longer herself, she is a hag in service to Simol, The Hag Empress. Her form is just a ...persona created by The Oni."

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Namina's Inquiry 3: This Time it's, like, half Personal? I guess?

Namina had another question, "So, uh, do you know why the Circus that took my brother is touring here? Are they going to hurt him?"
The Spirit took a moment, its crown fragments picking up some speed and becoming slightly darker as they continued rotating within its missing head.
Namina's Cursed Knowledge

You see, in your mind, this Circus. Traveling through the forest, trying to find a place to set up. You see the likely place of your brother: stuck beneath a tarp attached to a large rectangular "cart". They began to stretch out like worms, like they were being connected between where they are and where they're going, a full path of their time here up to a point. They stop somewhere far to the north in the Grasslands/Northlands. There's snow on the ground and a throne with ancient, elven-influenced architecture built around it. Sitting on the throne is an elf, clad entirely in black except on their head which is exposed to show the pale, snow elf flesh and hair. They have a black banner, a black greatsword and a black crown.
"I have no knowledge about why the circus would take your brother, perhaps as an attraction? The Usurper is one known as Anguish, and his Black Banner has torn open holes into the material plane. He has armies, jesters, and power at his disposal. He has taken control of what should belong only to the ancient darkness of my creator. He was once a jester until he rose to power."

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Agave's Inquiry 2: What's your Number?

Agave was curious, "Is there a way that we can reach out to you with questions and the like in the future?"
The Spirit replied the same way it always did with its chittering and screaming, and it seemed almost eager to answer this question. "That can be arranged."
It caused more of its shadow noodle-like limbs to appear from Its shadow bod on the ground, and as they appeared they revealed a journal, seemingly out of nothingness.
"Anything that is written in this tome is forgotten and becomes my memory."

---

Things began to die down a bit, and the Spirit thanked you all for the delicious tea.
It departed, politely enough, and as it did it slowly dissolved into shadow directly into the air.
Kaswink commented as it faded from existence "Have a safe spiral home."

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Concluding The Expedition

Agave got caught up on previous events involving explosions and the strange Spirit that you all were interacting with. It was also brought up that Quince doesn't need to be killed, but there was still a lot of animosity towards that guy.
Looking around the Gate Camp, it was discovered that the strange pillar/pit of madness, and antimagic and whatever else had slowed down to the point that it had physically stopped growing. The aura that was pouring out of it had slowed down immensely as well, but it was still intense enough to cause some discomfort for Namina when she looked at it. Also, Kaswink was slowly transforming due to her damaged state now that the Spirit was gone.
Quince appeared from beneath a tent and handed out your payment of 5,000 gold. He had questions about what just transpired, but in the classic Spiritual Travelers approach, no real information was provided to him. However, some more jabs at his character were had and there was much rejoicing. Namina did end up telling Quince a brief summary of the plan to restore the Cycle, and ended it with a delightful burn involving the universe being better if Quince never existed. Despite all that, he still provided what information he could about where the other camps are.
Some discussion was had about what to do about the recently displaced Tourists, but the most important thing was to rest first and be able to teleport, and to focus on the threats that were known.
You all rested, taking shifts and doing any necessary tasks while your friends slept. Namina completed assembling her Talisman, Abyssal Redemption, and Kaswink was able to hunt for breakfast. Before they went to sleep, Hysteria took a peek at the weird book they found.

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The information seemed to be ...cursed to some degree. Each word would deliver a hundred other words to the mind at once, and it took an immense amount of effort for them to be able to parse anything useful. They did, however, learn the following from it:
What was Learned So Far

“And I wondered why I was here.
This land, everything…nothing
The world is behind me, everything is clear
That I died back there…”
“And I wondered why I was here.
That the pact had been made
I would no longer have fear
That I died back there…”

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“When I first arrived here I was near a small village. I felt … strangely soft, spread out, and there was no pain. I couldn’t move, and yet it felt like something was constantly moving me. I heard the sound of chimes, but they were made of something not designed for resonance…they sounded like they were made of bones. They rattled around me, and then I felt something solid for the first time…”

The information learned seemed to be about their target...though nobody else is really aware of what that is or what the book said.

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Agave also tested the journal that was received from the Chittering Spirit.
Just as the Spirit said, anything that is written in it is forgotten. The information left Agave's mind and it was also erased from the book, but it was not forgotten by anyone else, just the person that wrote them down in the journal. The memories also do not depart until the journal is closed.
After everyone woke up and got ready to go, you all returned home to your camp.

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An Unexpected Guest

Upon returning to your Home Base, you heard a disturbance just outside the window on the otherside of your cabin. Something was rustling through the bush outside, and a figure could be seen walking around.
You snuck up to the creature, noticing that it was definitely humanoid and dressed in a feathery cloak with a bird mask resting on top of their head. Kaswink got close enough to them to find that, beneath the mask, there was definitely humanoid ears and grey hair. The figure seemed to just be writing in a journal. She greeted the being, and as she spoke to them they immediately donned their mask and somehow jumped back 30 feet to land on the otherside of your base.
The person was reasonable, and offered information after it became apparent that you weren't a threat. They explained that they were just interested in your camp and would move along if need be. They seemed forgetful, and had to constantly look for different books to reference what they had written.
After they mentioned that they "spend time everyday remembering someone, a girl, a friendly face that told stories...if I don't remember her everyday she'll cease to exist." Some dots were connected that caused Namina to ask "Are you Basil?"

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They seemed forgetful to the point that they didn't even know their own name on account of "not normally writing in the third person", but when further explanation of Anise and having had The Field Guide returned to him, he suddenly remember a lot more about himself and his sister...conceding that he is, indeed, The Writer.
He offered to stay with you, to answer any questions you might have about himself and the Spirit World, and Agave had some further questions about the journals he keeps...especially about a "mutual friend".
Kaswink also offered to have him stay as some of what you all were doing might align with him getting his memories back, and help him get Anise back.

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The sun was rising, and some decisions needed to be made about what to do next.
Go and fight Ilven?
Go and visit the camp that Namina's brother might be at?
Some cleanup was also done at the end of the session with the price paid for all of the Chittering Spirit's information: Memories of your past were lost. For some of you this was just a day or a week, but for Agave it was a full month. We still don't know how well Frode or DAN did on the appropriate rolls to this day.

August 15, 2022 Monday D&D

In-game Date:
Nurend 41-42, 308

Report Date

15 Aug 2022

Primary Location

Gate Camp

Secondary Location

Home Base

Related Plots

• A Broken Cycle
• Anise and Fjarverand
• Ilven's Return and Machinations
• Lost Tourists
• Of a Patron, a King and a Lost Child
• The Expedition

Related Characters

• Chittering Spirit
• Quince
• The Writer
• Vsevolodrik