Session 98: Toali and Droaam
General Summary
- The Crew began speaking to Toali, who was assembing his sticks into the vague shapes of the Daughters of Sora Kell. On a nearby log, there were matches, a vial labeled "ignition oil", and the severed head of a Korranberg researcher.
- Toali was not averse to speaking with the Crew, but was not overly willing either. N'nchyk detected enchantment magic upon him, and when Frisian casted Dispel Magic, he briefly turned back into himself, but the effect quickly wore off.
- Speaking about Korranberg, or Toali's past work, or even Brock the Lock, brought Toali slightly back towards sanity. Mentioning Droaam or the Daughters quickly brought him back to the realm of muttering and Droaamic devotion. He was asked to open the locked black bag they found previously, and he slowly seemed to return to himself as he worked - studying the lock, his keyhand constantly shifting, tears streaming down his face - until he withdrew a mithral tessaract from his bag, embedded it in his keyhand, and successfully unlocked the bag. He dropped it, and retreated quickly, sobbing.
- The contents of the black bag were a profile on Xharrakash the medusa warlord, a bit of parchment in Abyssal, and a small black disk with two indentations on either side.
- When both indentations were pressed, it expanded into a vast obsidian disc, two feet across, etched with rings of silver glyphs that seemed to breathe. The surface was cold and perfectly still, yet the markings moved — not physically, but in their perception. Symbols realigned, spirals fractured, and constellations they didn’t recognize drifted just beneath the surface like trapped reflections. Thirteen broken moon-glyphs rimmed the edge, surrounding what was barely interpretable as a map, but of no land they recognized. Several demarcations were crossed out, save for one. Interpreting this map required the permanent sacrifice of one point of intelligence.
- Frisian was willing to make the sacrifice. Ingesting all of the information nearly shattered his mind - it was clearly not meant for mortals, but a spindle of the Silver Flame kept him anchored. He learned that the map was a search for an ancient gate, and there was only one location left, slightly northeast of the route from Graywall to the Great Crag. This was the last known location of Xharrakash. Discerning this information left him with a horrible headache, combined with a migraine, bordering on a stroke of some kind.
- Eventually, the Crew devised a plan for Toali: attach a note ("Brainwashed. Will return to Droaam. Keep contained."), put Brock the Lock in his pocket, and push him through a tree enchanted with Transport Via Plants, the other end (hopefully) being the tree on the outskirts of the Library of Korranberg.
- With that part of the quest (hopefully) taken care of, the Crew set along the path towards the location Frisian indicated.
- At the approach of a wide stream, bridged by a narrow, rickety path, the Crew met an imposing, two-headed, shadow-shrouded individual. Upon this figure's shoulder, a gargoyle was perched, and six kobolds chattered about behind them.
- The Crew exchanged tentative parlays with this individual, stating their intentions and attitude towards Droaam - as, apparently, the Crew reeked of adventurer.
- In perhaps the most surprising twist of the entirety of the Crew so far, N'nchyk's fatherhood of Squid was what ingratiated the Crew with this individual - an arcane ogre by the name of Mother Yaruh. She called the creatures she was traveling with - the gargoyle and kobolds - her children, and N'nchyk described his experience with his son, who was "very interested in poetry".
- The rapport earned the Crew an invite back to Mother Yaruh's yurt, which was not far away. Outside the yurt was a large mound with a curved inset, the entrance lined with stone, forming a sort of minor earthy cave. It was empty, save for some bones and a massive, purple-red blanket. Affixed to one of the entrance stones was a large wooden sign, upon which “Gilbub” was inscribed.
- The yurt was massive — easily 30 feet across, and 20 feet high — and made of woven hide and wool, dyed in earth tones and deep purples. The outside was decorated with numerous charms and bones, each inscribed in Giant. The doorway is marked by painted handprints in many sizes and colors, each alongside a protective rune. Entering the massive yurt, a strong, strange, but comforting scent filled their noses — earthy, sootlike, and herbal.
- N'nchyk continued to speak with Mother Yaruh as she began to fashion a charm in the style of the ones on the outside of her yurt. She said they were memories of her past children. She used both menial carving and arcane transmutation techniques in the fashioning of the charm.
- The Crew noticed the kobolds were in rough shape. One was missing both arms, one was unable to form words, and another had a chunk missing from their skull. Mother Yaruh said they were formerly a part of a slavefighting ring in Darguun, and the wounds they saw, they were forced to inflict upon one another. Like all her children, they had all fled to Droaam to escape the horrors that awaited "monsters" across the rest of Khorvaire.
- Several of the kobolds pointed out that Frisian was extremely smelly.
- When asked how she felt about Droaam, Mother Yaruh was very clear. She said it was an undeniable good for individuals like herself, and all of her children. It gave them a sense of unity, belonging, and purpose - all were loyal to the Daughters, as what they had accomplished had never before been achieved, not even by the legendary Dhakaani empire.
- After a satiating dinner, the Crew settled down for the night in the yurt, and departed warmly with a packed lunch for each the next morning.
- Continuing to follow the map, the Crew made it to the location of the ancient gate, the last location of Xharrakash, but found neither. Instead, they found a mind flayer, meditating cross-legged in the bog water.
- The mind flayer was very polite, introducing himself as Vrul'thelek, and addressing the Crew by titles such as "emeritus" and "your honor". He told them the place they seek is very near, but still very far. The Daughters call it the Sanctuary, and the place is ancient, nearly unfathomably so.
- In order to invoke the gate into the Sanctuary, "You must embrace and invoke the forbidden. For every living being, this is different. For me, my very existence is forbidden. For you, I can help. But it requires you to trust the will of a forbidden monster." He also warned the Crew that mortals can only enter the Sanctuary once in their life.
- And so, the Crew began to engage in the ritual that Vrul'thelek detailed. They were to kneel upon shards of golden glass, interlacing hands. He then inserted at the base of their necks, right at the brain stem, a long, sharp, obsidian needle, to their great discomfort. Viribus was initially unwilling, but eventually conceded. N'nchyk was particularly injured.
- Vrul'thelek spoke once again: "What you call ‘truth’ is a containment field. What you call ‘self’ is a boundary error in the language of thought. The Sanctuary does not accept travelers. It accepts reflection. If you wish to be known by it...let me unwrap what you forbid from yourself."
- Everyone needed to offer one of the following, uttered in truth, of consequence, and yet unspoken: 1. A memory they wish they could erase. 2. A belief they’ve started to doubt. 3. A fear they cannot speak aloud — but must now voice.
- The Crew's confessions were as follows, expressed in a shared psychic connection, not as words, but as abstract feelings and concepts:
- Viribus has started to doubt the belief that he doesn't need anyone else and that personal power is all that matters.
- Ashpin doubts the prudence of his oath. He confessed patience is unbecoming of him, and that visceral action should take its place.
- Dooturr is doubtful of the collective capability of the group to stop the existential threats posed to them, and that they are doomed to fail.
- N’nchyk is worried that everyone he’s grown close to is going to be enthralled by figures from his past, and that he won’t be upset about it.
- Frisian is scared that the Devourer is going to kill him for converting.
- Bagan is concerned that the problems that the Crew are facing are larger than a battleaxe and a can-do attitude, and he is worried about his ability to support the Crew.
- And so, the ritual concluded. The gate to the Sanctuary opened - a fracture in reality; a mass of black fog with an eye at its center.
Report Date
07 Jul 2025
Comments