6.9.24 : Vileblood Camp

Last we left off, the party was on their way far west when they encountered a man turning in to a vileblood before being attacked by vilebloods as well. Seeking out the hideout of the creatures, they infiltrated an owlbear cave taken over by more vilebloods. Khadija and Wyn were able to distract the front guards and draw them off to look for people wandering too close while the other three took a secret tunnel into the cave once used by the man on the road to escape their captivity. With the distraction successful, the party dispatched the remaining vilebloods in the cave, releasing the one remaining, wounded owlbear before it was killed by the vilebloods. All the while a semi-sphere of magic remained in one corner of the cave where the half-orc who they had heard come here was suspected to be. While the others set about making it look like the vilebloods were asleep to trick the returning group, the other captives were approached and studied for signs of the Vileblood Curse. All but one were found with some form of transformation occurring. The remaining captive was a tiefling who called themselves Ser Virtue Nathandem of the Chapter of Cinders, a name familiar to Dorothea as the name used to introduce the tiefling who attempted to steal from the baron in Ceatavec, yet not the same man. This knight was set free by Pela and agreed to assist in putting the other captives out of their misery before they fully transformed into vilebloods.   Meanwhile, Khadija interrogated a lone vileblood survivor. This vileblood refused to share the plans of the group outside of their intent to join up with a larger group of them. They spoke of "the Luminary" which granted power to "speakers" (of which they named the first vileblood killed). They claimed to have been born a vileblood and know nothing of what was done to change the captives into vilebloods, claiming the "Luminary" gave that knowledge to their "high speaker" and the one killed here was one of their apprentices and would be the only one knowledgeable of it. When asked about the orb, they claimed it was a person, non-vileblood, who had recently joined them, and that rumors are that they are an ally or friend of the "Luminary". They also expressed surprise at the idea that a non-vileblood would assist them since most simply hunt them and seek their demise. When the interrogation was finished, Dorothea killed the Vileblood.   Pela had made their way over to the orb to inspect it, finding it to be the expected Tiny Hut spell but laced with an unfamiliar magic. While she looked the hut over, a humanoid skull, covered in runes and glowing from the eyes, came out of the dome to greet her. They had a short conversation in which the skull claimed to have knowledge of a subject she asked about, and would be willing to help in exchange for a favor after they finish their current business. Despite Pela telling the skull that a number of her friends were religiously motivated in their actions, drawing an unfavorable comment from the skull, after the skull returned to the dome and the last vileblood was killed, the dome dispersed, and a half-orc man stood where it once did, stepping forward as if to address the group.   At the same time, the distracted vilebloods returned to find Wyn, disguised as one of the vilebloods, claiming that the half-orc had turned on them.