Eles Raagha

We begin with an annoyed Shug-wai at this sort of war meeting. Hops and Pelk pretending to be charmed Her request is for us to "cease this violence" We also had some honorable request that I don't remember   "We're more concerned with what you're doing in the afterlife" "Would you take a powerful member of the resistance and leave Immelion alone?" "You're offering an exchange for Immelion?"   Eles offers Richard instead of Manny, who was trying to be the one traded for Immelion. I don't remember what she said when she left but she disappeared in radiant energy and in her place was a froghemoth.   Dara gets the final blow! "bits and pieces slough off" gross.   Eles immediately leaves for the defensive lines, worried about Yanef. Something about the opposite direction from ourselves. As we run through the woods, we see plants that belong in the woods, but they're in the wrong season   We try to stealth into the camp, but we all fail. Merrli and Eles get bags put on our heads, Manny and Dara escape, until they also choose to be bagged. (in my notes here, I wrote "time jump" BEFORE it was formally revealed?!) We meet Yanef, she is with a snake person (I think), a dwarf and 2 elves. Yanef looks incredibly surprised.   "What's with the bags Yanef" She asks who we are, tries to bind us with vines, which we escape. 9 MONTHS HAVE PASSED!   Religion check: not the Raven Queen's tactics, something "fucky-wucky" Shugwai, probably to blame. They sent messengers, but they never returned. Commander Ari, salutes to Yanef   Uprising in the grippli village, Miter Jantz mentioned it was not a safe port anymore.   Killing Elsinore was news to Yanef, she's elated.   WE LEVEL UP!   There's been 9mos of constant skirmishing. In the morning, we ask about the Affgroth weapon. Affgroth is still kind of in the resistance's control, but are lost without their leadership. The purpose of the resistance now is to survive, "We've lost hope" Status on the transportation circles-they're back where we left them.   Manny can't call Hops on the blood phone. I send him a message, "It's Eles, where can we find you? What's happened since we left?" Response: "Hey Ellie, in the mausoleum, I mean, nothing's really happened since you left, we started putting a couple of bricks back"   Commune 3 Questions: 1. Do we find a way back in time? A: No 2. Is there a way to get them to us? A: Yes 3. Will the road bring us back to Hops? A: Yes   I re-summon Guatir (the 4th) Evil beyond the wall, remnants of evil pervasive neutrality some 28 skill check: Nothing appears particularly out of place, nothing specifically weird, but it feels off.   Manny Nat 2o survival: gained land through fighting, lots of craters, mountain-ish thing wasn't there 9 months ago. Catches his eye. Lots of snake weaponry Uprising among grippli.   We decide to walk back to the mausoleum. We convince Yanef, after a few tries, to come with us. I think I remember Eles saying something about needing her. Eles casts planar ally to help the army we left behind, just in case.   Looks like the mausoleum was rebuilt. Still winter another message, "We're safe and 9mos ahead of you, Maybe this will be useful. In one week, grippli uprising. Hops, "If I make the same walk, will I get to the future? hide book under 10th brick. Farewell. The book is some kind of diary, "The uprising has been stopped" "haven't seen you guys, it's been 3 months."   Message: "Don't know if walking will bring you back, too risky. 2 months, push attack from Western Front. Hide Hammer, last stand at Shadowed Sanctum" "I respond in book. Our forces are ready. Don't tell Manny, if this makes a paradox, I won't make it out. I love y'all. Goodbye"   Other ways to deal with gods instead of killing them?   "We did not walk, we stated, never left this space. War Hammer under 1st tree behind mausoleum. We pushed attack, the woods are free. Scroll is on the next page. It was a fun learn. Don't mind the ripped pages in my past attempts. Send messages if you can. I know this is costing you. Stay safe. Keep my brother safe. If you don't I'll kill you. And now we wait.   Message: "If this is truly the last time, Manny tells you he loves you. Tell everyone we will fight like hell for them A: "If I can, I'll get them 3 out. But I might need to stay behind for sending, if you need anything else"   Eles will cast Hero's Feast for the first time!

Running away from the battle site. Dara is carrying Elsinore, Eles casts gentle repose on her. Manny and Merrli fall somewhat behind. Dara and Eles make it to the mausoleum, and hear 4 voices; Pelk, Hops, Yanef and Umstrek. They're having some kind of heated discussion.   Dara and Eles double-back to try and find Manny and Merrli, who almost fall into a pit. we search for 3-4 minutes with no success. Merrli gets caught in a net trap. Then the party is reunited.   Coming out of the forest, the party sees a snake person apparently trying to defect from their side. Manny blood calls Hops, who says they have another person like that and to bring this one along.   Entering the road in front of the mausoleum, Eles notices the lady flickers. She's something like a mirror self spell. The mausoleum door opens. Umstrek, Hops and Pelk all seem charmed. Idk what's up with Yanef, I can't read my handwriting. Dara recognizes the snake woman - Shug-wai...great... Merrli remembers they're a big-ass bad guy. "You come into my stepmother's house" "I mean not to fight you. If I wanted you dead, you'd be dead." "...diplomatic mission. fighting is endless" "I'm here to end the suffering" "If I could end...having to send my children..." "Let us come to an agreement" "I'm looking for a peaceful end" "The Raven Queen strays from the light"   "I can give you power" Eles answers "What if I don't want power" At this point Eles is furious, idk about the rest of the party. Eles wants no part is negotiating with a terrorist.   Pelk is trying to communicate that she and Hops aren't charmed and to sit our asses down. totally helpful. Talking to Shug-wai again; why is she here? "We're just trying to get back what's ours" "We lived together in relative peace" Merrli -"We didn't have running water!" "Immelion has stand your ground laws" lol Manny successfully persuaded "You killed him" "I didn't, my daughter did, per my direct orders" "Well, I'll have to kill her again" "You were collateral damage" Manny (sarcastically?) -"Yeah, the universe revolves around me"   Looking to Pelk and Hops 27 insight check - Hops is uncertain, body guard mode? Pelk...appears to be cross stitching? but is focused on the conversation, trying to remember everything and connect the dots. She does not trust Shug-wai   "Oh, I've just temporarily changed the afterlife for some" But they killed off the Scaled Mother, shutting off that afterlife permanently. "I thought all her children were killed off" "Genocide is such a harsh word." (bananas line)   I think Shug-wai wants us to surrender some of Immelion to her, but like....that can't happen? thinking as both Eles and her puppetmaster, I have no idea what to do.

While everyone was asleep, Eles and Yanef took some time to catch up. Eles offers a hug to Yanef. We wake up and notice things are not exactly the same as we left them. The party is around a campfire and some other elves are around. Near us, we find a pile of notes, sealed by "non-physical means" with non-standard ink. Dara's was the color of gunmetal, Eles's was black and kind of glittery, Merrli's was iridescent and Manny's was a warm amber. Eles sensed a familiar magic on her note, but not the others. Merrli has a "rank taste of magic that isn't Lolth"   Merrli is now "the first champion of Lorathion" "Hand to the Raven Queen" and "Warlock of the Raven Queen". did he kind of pull rank with Yanef?   anyway, we make a dex check, Eles failed. We all get mildly blinded by light, as it wraps around our faces (except Dara?).   We for sure know who the voices in our head are. Dara hears a voice she doesn't recognize, but she knows she's heard it her whole life, but no other distinguishing features. Eles hears the Raven Queen   "She wants not your soul, she wants your retribution"-what was this context? it rips   Back in the War Room: It's been 2 days since we commissioned the warhammer, but it will take 2 weeks to finish. (Dara's Mom wielded a hammer, it's canon now!) Dara, Umstrek, Pelk, Yanef and Hops are with us Hops: "Void dragon wasn't on my bingo card." Humbling experience "You should have seen my childhood-lots of omens" Was that Eles?   Merrli 14 insight check: doesn't realize the general is his sister, knows she has a personal interest in killing him. She had a Warg mount, looks higher up.   Something about starting at the end. Do we have to kill Malakar before Asmodeus? Probably We figure out Dara's letter came from the main god of the dwarves. Is there a link between the 3 Dwarven gods? Greed, truth/safety, war? Dara realizes the common thread is they are part of the same family. A 5th god's decided to join the fray. Seems to be important.   Eles casts Divination (reaching out to the new god?) to ask about the next 7 days. She asks "Will the final fight happen tomorrow?" Answer: "There are many fights you will have to fight Young Lady, one will happen tomorrow, the important one is yet to come." 16 insight/perception: A little more knowledge, didn't sound like a lady, but didn't quite sound like a man. Felt different, the essence resonated-sounded kind of far away.   Merrli reaching out to Lorathion-actually just kidding, he reaches out to the Raven Queen. Yanef and Eles see familiar magic. Raven talons grip him and pull his spirit underground. The area is neither Shadowfell of the Material Plane. "Nice to formally meet you" "Lorathion and I talked" about Merrli coming back "1700 years is a long time, even for a god." "I am unable to do what you want, however, I can offer you this..." Merrli cuts her off at this point? "Whomst is sending my friends notes in class? "IDK" "Please move with wisdom Merrlinium"   Merrli comes back swinging at Dara, for the life of me I don't remember why. He is magically held by Hops, Yanef, Pelk, Eles and one other guard in the room. "You didn't even want to be a Paladin" "You didn't even want to come back to life" "You can't have reviver's guilt" "Chain mail pump cover" "How do you so consistently fail...by one"   Survival Check- 16 from Manny. He hears nothing. No birds, no nothing. A runner arrives. Those in charge, possessing the temple are readying attacks. Other background: All of the clerics followed the great-grandmother, has been this way for 1.5-2 years.   We set up a glyph of warding in the woods, a little far away from the mausoleum. 3:30am Perception check- 25 senses a crackling and rustling noise, not a part of the woods.   FIGHT! We fight a sap demon, a lumbering giantfolk, another fucking Merrowlith and a death knight. AND the woman that trained Eles, Mother Elsinore (is she the leader of this entire thing?)   "It looks like you've arrived just in time to be late. Oh well, this will be interesting." "You've betrayed everything you taught me" "betrayal is such a strong word" Eles used the counterspell scroll she got what feels like a million years ago, to counterspell Elsinore's 7th level spell   "You're new, I haven't seen you before" (to Dara?) "To the contrary: we need a new...(I didn't get the last part) "Shackles of our life" Elsinore says something about working with Asmodeus, but not truly needing him. Like they have some other plan and are just trying to use Asmodeus to get to that goal. (Killing the Raven Queen?) Eles focuses more on healing her allies than damagin Elsinore, she's never able to get more than like 30 ft away from her before Elsinore starts moving. She also says something about Yanef not being too long for this world. (is there a fight happening at the mausoleum?)   Eles and Elsinore (I swear I didn't realize how close their names were until recently!) have more back and forths that I wish I had written down. Lots of "This is not what you trained me for" And the last thing Eles does before Elsinore casts Divine Word (I think) is a Mass healing spell for all of her allies. Elsinore casts Divine Word, Eles had fewer than 20hp and straight up dies.   On attacks of opportunity, Merrli hits, then Dara hit and kills Eles's grandmother! Manny immediately races to Eles, jumps on her chest (the breastplate of Yondalla at that) and casts revivify!   *At the start of the next session, I want Eles to cast Gift to the Raven Queen and Gentle Repose on Elsinore, ask someone to grab her and bring her with as, and race as fast as I can to the mausoleum.*

We face some kind of void/space dragon?! Whatever it is, it's SCARY. We all hear a voice in our heads say "You guys are not supposed to be here. I'm going to extract you. I'm giving you advanced warning" but the voice sounds different to all of us: Dara: sounds like her mother Merrli: his sister Manny: Hops Eles: One of her mothers, Elsinore   We try to hit the dragon, to little success. Eles tries to banish it, but homegirl is CHARISMATIC! There is some wibbly air waves, emanating from the dragon. Some kinda magic, a gravitational magic   Dara and Eles go down "I warned you, let's take this somewhere more comfortable" (We're going to the Shadowed Sanctuary aren't we?)   everyone within 2k, hear Dorath's booming voice, one-footed on the embankment yelling out, "We fight not for our fear, but freedom. We fight for our honorable death" or something like that.   Merrli grabs Dara and dimension doors away. Manny and Eles are together near the void dragon. We all resist the "call of the void" fucking THANKFULLY. Even Dara. We pop several kilometers over the ground. 4 of us plus Dorath, Umstrek, Tiny and Cragcloak. After absolutely freaking out and losing our collectinve SHIT, Eles (her puppetmaster) remembers that she has her necklace that casts Wind Walk. "Why here?" don't know why that was important for me to write down "Do you think I planned to go to hell, Do you think I did that on purpose Tiny? "Did you get her pregnant?" Tiny, to Dara, about Umstrek lol   Eles thinks to stay in Wind Walk to explore the non-aligned with us part of the Sanctuary. War in the Shadowed Sanctuary. The Great-Grandmother was corrupted by Asmodeus The Raven Queen was technically created by Asmodeus, but did not want to follow. 2/3rds of the Sanctum went with the great-grandmother, Yanef leads the other 1/3rd floating through the air, dropping people off, but Merrli has a problem entering the sanctuary. The Sanctuary is designed to keep out; a. undead b. those with malicious intent and/or c. those specifically against the Raven Queen. -Just occurring to me now, if all that's the case, how was the great-grandmother corrupted. Was there a loophole with Asmodeus? Eles casts dispel magic on Merrli's amulet (or was it Manny?)   We hike into the Sanctuary. The War room is in another great-grandmother's mausoleum Take a short rest to get Guatir back   "Matron damn it" is a great expletive.   Merrowliths are demi-gods (Don't remember why that's particularly relevant)   Merrli doesn't like Yanef. "I ALSO got a new role for the Matron" I catch up with Yanef a little and WISH I had written more down.   We're going to a secondary shrine for Merrli. He touches the amulet, and we all have to make a dex save. Eles passes, no one else does (A little poetic, no?) 26 religion check- Merrli feels his power being stripped away-not a good feeling. Coming to life in a bad way, in immense pain because he's been dead for a bazillion years. Another dex save as Merrli becomes MERRLINIUM!! We see the spider tendrils ash away on the amulet, there is a diamond underneath. Merrli is unconscious for 8 hours, we all get a long rest. (I think Yanef and Eles would talk more, because they only trance)

We start talking to each other about our feelings! Dara wishes her family could see her, we remind her that her family is all with us. "You're mother is here" with Dara "On Matron-" as a phrase now exists Talking to Hops- Manny tells him that he puts too much pressure on himself, that the two of them do that all the time. "You always use to say we could conquer anything" (OUCH. knife through my heart) I think Manny's response was that there are more people on their side, that they're also surrounded by family (I think) "We're all parts of the same body" Dara-one arm Merrli-Hand, Manny-second arm Eles-Heart Manny tells Hops that he's "not an abacus". Hops starts to trust us again, but definitely gave us another earful about abandoning Manny.   Now we're talking to some people from Candlekeep about Dorath. This was a common trick used in the 1st demon wars. Decapitate the nation by making the top person unconscious. "Never After Life" We tell Hops about the Void, he doesn't think we need to wake up Dorath.   "You're not even the shit, you're the taint" No idea. We find out "Dwarfatello" is the sculpture of the Baelo statue.   What was it that made Yanef send a raven to me? We revealed some information that freaked her out? That we spoke with the matron? "Please inform our shepherd to keep that more on the down low" What is on the DL? don't remember.   Eles gets a bad dream, a vision of Dorath pleading with Malakar for his life. It feels like she was there. In the morning, it's decided that we have to at least try and save Dorath. Eles and Merrli cast a combo of Scry and Dispel Evil on Dorath. Can feel that the dispel took affect, but nothing appears different. There's a tinge that we have access to an afterlife soul. Through the scry, we see Dorath in the Ne'er After Land. Wis save, Merrli passes, Eles does not! Dorath is now pleading with us to "take him back" Through an insight check, Eles knows this is Dorath, and if we can get him out, he will be free of Malakar. We end up successful, but we reveal to Malakar that Merrli and Eles are still (again?) alive. Oops   "I try to catch my breath I don't have", "I'm a nice, cared for dead body" Merrli, I presume.   Dorath turns to Dara and goes sheet white. "You're Dead..." "Surprise." "We buried you" "We buried your armor" "Where were you" "Hell" "3 years, I lost my daughter. I had her for 3 weeks" Perception on Dorath, verbatim from my notes "he's alive, but this is no Theoden moment, he looks like shit" Eles tries to help Dara and Dorath by explaining what happened, in plain terms.   Everyone leaves the room, leaving Dara and Dorath alone. They share a moment, that I didn't write down, but Kate has at least part of what Dara said. Dorath asks Dara if she wants a battalion, she answers "yes" immediately, catches herself, and says "no" Dorath answers, "that's disappointing." Dara says something like, "they'll be better than yours" about a fighting force that she could lead.   A CRASH in the mountains, and a messenger comes sprinting. "They're breaking our gates now" Dorath reaches for his leg, Dara breaks it. He then calls for his wheelchair to watch from the parapets, or some castle/keep part that I don't remember the name of.   4 Tabaxi rock up to the party. Manny tells Hops that Dorath is awake. He already knows Affgroth is being attacked. No signs yet of the 2nd gate being breached. Massive hole where the 1st gate used to be. "Bold of you to think I care about her personality", "I forgot you think with your ovaries."   Dara, Eles and 2 Tabaxi guards stick together, to hold their own, while waiting for backup from Merrli's teleportation circle.   HUH?! "If you want to fuck the flower, don't do it on the map" some follow-up joke about "de-flowering" "Can you have a reverse banishment so we can summon a gun?"   We FIGHT! We WIN! ...then we hear what sounds like a fucking dragon thumping towards us.

We start! at the end of a fight. Captain O'Hare was going for Dara specifically. Both Dara and Manny get healed by Eles. The party is able to ask O'Hare; "What are you doing?" A:"Completing a mission" Q:"From who do you get your orders, or for whom do you complete this mission" A:O'Hare attempted to talk but couldn't" Q:Can you point (Idk what, where his boss is?) A: He couldn't really point. -I'm just now realizing that we don't really know what O'Hare's mission was   Balokenecht was still passed out.We search the surroundings for their boss. Over the river and through the woods, there's a gully of used spell components   Manny begins tracking in the woods, finds a circle of scorched earth, a portal/transport (planeshift?) The person left? I think? through this circle   Eles tries to convince the honor guard to back off Manny. Part of her point is that the resistance should not create a martyr out of "A Chosen One". They said they were just "following orders" and Eles quips, "Maybe you have new orders". It's wartime and the guard need to be flexible. We needed someone to watch O'Hare and Balokenecht. So we just have Phil follow us, not all of them. An investigation from Merrli:. The burns go about 4in. deep. Looking at the scorched tree limbs, they're not hot anymore. This is familiar to him, but he can't quite pinpoint it. (?!?Huh?!?)   Eles with a 25 religion: Common teleport method by higher rank of some major demi-god for Asmodeus. Would have come/gone from the 9 hells.   A second Nat 20 survival from Manny on the circle. 2 types of this kind of transport 1: Between planes, but it would still be on fire. This is the 2nd type: the person is still somewhere on Immelion. Manny contacts Hops: "Bastard scar giver" Dorath is in the same condition: "Getting older scares him"   Dara examining O'Hare. Decides that Eles should try casting Dispel Evil and Good on him. He goes unconscious, but is stable. The staff drew out abberations and fiends.   We rest at Durand for the night. After a long rest, we decide to travel as quickly as possible to Ashmort. Heading across a bridge, we feel a strong gust of wind with a whiff of magic; "Some spicy air" Ending in us SWITCHING EYE COLORS! Merrli now has Eles's blue eyes, Eles has Manny's brown eyes, and Dara and Manny have Merrli's purple eyes!!   We board a boat for Affgroth, a couple boats? Eles hears some shady shit going on, but nothing that really concerns her. Nothing related to what we're doing. "Weekend at Bernies" the guys"?? OH, the unconscious guys. Dara has O'Hare, either a guard or Manny has Balo. We send Paul to get info. Mostly to get rid of him.   We meet Thalia Moonshade, the owner of a store. She has an owl! I may love her. We bought 100gp of spell components and 2 regular healing potions.   Paul made contact, there was an attack 2 days ago at Affgroth. Very few causalities, thanks to Manny's early warning. It seemed like a half-hearted attack, like it was a test?   Eles casts sending on Baloknecht, "Who do we speak with, what are your intentions? How do we wake you up?"   Who: Archdruid Wolfrad (Crachtsolas, Malamalatao, Baeloknecht) Graybane What: My intentions are not your concern How: Reunite me and my soul from the graves beyond   I got a fucking Nat 20 religion check for the graves beyond: they grey space beyond nothing. Is it where Manny was when he died? I think so. No one would refer to the graves beyond as Shadowfell. This is very similar to what's happening to Dorath, but slightly different.   Transporter to Affgroth-in the arena We try to convince Hops that we need to have the same station as Manny. Hops wants to do everything exactly by the book. All the correct and boring paperwork. "What's stronger than the 5 of us?"Hops is still kind of annoyed with the 3 of us.   Cleeved was also attacked, but was easy to defend. Army that attacked them seemed scared? A drow woman was leading them (MERRLI'S SISTER?!?!?) the force was mainly drow, with some orcs.   A dwarf cleric recognizes Baeloknecht, asks us if we know who Baelo is. We say we do. Guy leads us like, WAY underground, into a shrine-like area/monument with a mural around it. Similar to the tunnels Merrli has been to. Obscenely hot. The most revered place for these monuments/sculptures. Info dump about Baelo: Full name confirmed. made in year 400 of the 1st era, about 7,000 years ago. Mural around has different moments from "this twat's life". He keeps popping up when he's not supposed to (is he the DOCTOR?!). He was the first dwarf to become a druid. brought druidic magic to Affgroth. Something about being a combat medic 956 of the second age: stumbled into a meeting of druids, "desire to remain insular" "needs someone's help to hone his powers. 981 shows up again. He hadn't aged ~60 in dwarf years. Showed up in Armad, issue with crops. early 1000s near Cindermire. Known by different names, showed up right when a natural disaster is due. Manny and Eles both had nightmares about famine and forest fires-fire and famine Last thing: disappeared after a plague on crops.   Today 1153, we know in the 1120s, he was with Edith (ugh).   We then start to look for a blacksmith.   While deciding on what weapon to make, or use, Eles very heroically offered her shortsword. But we decided that we should make a war hammer. Manny reached out to the Affgroth gods for guidance in that decision. Truesilver, (Silverbeard), punishment and imminent consquences.   PHEW.  

We start a few leagues away from Balokenect. Some info about him: learned druid, never spoke of his hometown, 5 years ago reports began to pop up in Durand. 9 months before we saw Noziack 3 parts to his weapon: I did not write them down...Is it the gem, a hilt, and a sword?   "Post- Pants clarity" We reach the impromptu camp, We see the resistance, scouts, and Manny's guards, Phil, Paul and who else? Status report: Balokenect is unresponsive. Found next to the road ~24 hours ago Dwarves and Tabaxi intelligence force. Yanef had been there, and she was mad, "damn dwarves, damn Druid" was that Yanef, or someone else said about the Dwarves and Yanef?   Is Balokenect the dwarf that Merrli fought with? Perception check: 27 Merrli doesn't think so? All of us see Balokenect in distressed clothing, no armor. He had gotten up in the middle of the night, killed his 2 guards and left no physical change in Balokenect OR, every so often something changes?   We go into the woods a bit with Balokenect, to be off the road from the public. w/in 5ft: starts visible? -no idea, oh, Manny's aura?   Infernal and Sylvan w/in 1ft. "you dare awaken us, we've been here longer than you existed" JESUS I forgot how much shit we fought: Sea hag, hobgoblin, red cap, and minimk or something "Neighborhood friendly Spiderman" We killed all those fuckers, but more came out: beholder zombie, revenant and a sword wraith we defeat THOSE fuckers, but not before Eles goes down after trying to run from either the revenant or the wraith, but got beholdered. "I didn't know she could do that" WHO SAID THAT lol   Celestial: "You were supposed to be here, you should be"   Merrli: 69 HP (nice) He also rolled a nat 20 to see Captain O'Hare right as he was going to stab...someone?   Dara is down,Eles has 11 and Mantis has 7...so that's fun.   Eles failed her Spirit Guardians concentration, I'm fairly certain I rolled 2 nat ones. Bless is still up.

We start with a recap of the state of Affgroth. Half of it is controlled by Asmodeus forces. Skirmishes in mining districts. Walking into Dorath's chambers. VIbe check from Eles, she's worried about there being demon intervention, her vibe check seems normal for being in a city that's half controlled by evil. Dorath is laying in his "royal best" and is sleeping. Opalbraid is sleeping in a chair, on a couch? nearby. Only Dara is really being allowed in, and barely. Opalbraid wakes up. She doesn't know what's wrong with Dorath, only that he's declined in the last 3 days. Cragcloak and Opalbraid are his right hands (right and left hands?) in the city. Manny casts zone of truth and walks away, we leave Dara in the chamber with her father. (well, she has Guatir too)   Dorath's pulse is strong, he does not have a prosthetic. "Try true love's kiss" says either Matthew or Merrli. Dara says "I'm sorry" to her dad and starts crying. Opalbraid says they've tried everything they could think of, Greater Restoration, the whole bit. (Dara says some other stuff to Dorath that I missed, and I think Kate will revisit/retcon?)   Merrli and Eles look more closely at Dorath. 25 medicine check from Eles: Again, his pulse is strong, but it's like something else of his is giving up. W/the Staff of Sylnias (s/o to Matthew for remembering) the staff resonates with the same soul-like thing that was happening to Balokenect (or however you spell it). Like Dorath could be possessed in a similar way. Merrli recognizes the resonance, seeing it really for the first time and grasps the staff by the gem. "This is the gem that killed Malachar" and picture Eles and Merrli standing over Dorath's bed with a weepy Dara, with hands on this staff.   We try sending a message to Dorath, and figure out a code just in case "someone else" is listening. "The abandoned mines are vulnerable, we need your knowledge of fresh axes" Eles gets the equivalent of a "sent" receipt back. His response is mumbled in Dwarvish. Eles tries to recreate what he said, "I feel him, he is coming"   Immediate SOS to Hops to rally the troops and move that war council up to an ASAP emergency meeting. Eles Summons Leldentha so that everyone who needs to can come to the war meeting. The emergency procedure is to go to Candlekeep. (I think Eles saw Yanef and said something to her, or some kind of insight check, I don't remember.) We see Pelk and Mithrau running toward a portal. "He's gone" being Baylokinect (again, however tf you spell it)   Merrli just straight up tries to put the crystal in his chest. (TERRIBLE IDEA). We decide that it should eventually be put into an actual weapon, and not just the staff. But for now, Eles figures she's kept it safe so far, and it's a useful staff lol. But maybe we could find a sword to forge it into. Do we think it's a viable idea to put it in Manny's sword? I don't remember. It's decided that the 4 of us go after the fucking druid. (is this where Eles saw Yanef?) We'll follow him on foot, while others will try to meet us wherever he's going. Eles tries to take Hops or Yanef with them, but Hops and Manny shouldn't be on the same mission, as Hops is pretty much the head of the resistance. We make camp, talking to each other about destinies. (I wish I wrote more stuff down in scenes like these)   Manny casts speak with animals on a chipmunk, and very quickly made that chipmunk into a paladin of...Manny? or Manny is now his Warlock patron. "You must gather all of the chipmunks, squirrels, moles...You head west"   "Sometimes fate is a matter of opportunity" (who tf said THAT? it goes HARD)   We continue traveling, with several tumbles and encounters. We see a young boy and his dog fighting wolves, we make quick work of the attacking wolves. The boy and dog smile at us and disappear. We feel the Bless spell on us for 3 days. We also came across an old woman, won't tell us why but insists she needs to be killed. Merrli absolutely smokes her with an eldritch blast straight to the head, but she was still alive. Manny absolutely doesn't think we should kill this woman! We try to get more information out of her. Somehow we pick up on the weird/bad vibes and Manny is the one to finish her, then HE gets turned into a haggard old woman, while a girl from a local village is freed from the curse. And he would stay that way until someone killed him. Eles immediately casts Greater Restoration on Manny, this breaks the curse.   We find a weapons cache with a +2 crossbow and a +1 longsword, that maybe we'll be able to forge the crystal into it. The forest gets covered in a "mysteriously cold, sticky rain" (ew). Eles sends Guatir up through the storm to see how far up it goes...and Guatir dies of hypothermia...we take that as a bad sign and make camp for the night.   We get "scattered senses" and we have -3 to our proficiency bonus for 2 days (Great.) And on the next day, we get the word that the druid has been found. "In the city/town where it started" Where Eles, Manny and Richard's adventure started. Except I have no idea what the name of it was.

We thought we were gone for a few weeks. Already unforgivable. We were gone for 3 years...unthinkable. Yet the first thing I felt drawn to do is go underground again. To refuse sunlight and trees. My head swims with memories of the Sanctum.Yanef has not seen me in 3 years. She thinks I'm dead. My entire family thinks the same. I have failed them. I was sent out for answers, and from what they know, I failed them. To back back feeling, dare I say, victorious, in a world of such new death. Thoughts trail back to Dara, Merrli, and of course, Manny.   I find myself so overwhelmed with duty once more. Whispers on the wind. Questions floating like raven's feathers. What happened to us in Shadowfell? We were brought to Shadowfell by the Matron, but not Manny? Was it in the Raven Queen's plan to have 3 years pass all along? The Matron wanted to speak with Merrli, present me with a new purpose and pass information to Dara that only she could interpret. Merrli got memories back. Many of them.   I am to be her mirror, as Lildenthe was her sword. I shall provide wisdom for her followers and serve as (her?) the mirror, when she needs it most. No one else yet knows this of me. Did my elders know of the eyes, the mouth, the hands? I never learned of them. But there are many things in the Shadowed Sanctum that are for few eyes only. I was never the one pouring over tomes, and until my last days there, a part of secret meetings. I was taught to do important things. Not talk of other's important things. Few of my siblings could do what I do, as well as I can do it.

Waking up on the material plane, the party gains the benefits of a long rest. In an autumnal forest, it seems like about 2 months might have passed. (babbling brook "the perfect place for a beaver"?) Manny is still not around. Insight check: Dara and Eles remember everything that happened in Shadowfell. Merrli doesn't remember everything, but DOES remember that he has a sister? and probably fought her? Eles has Guatir back! Dara remembers her mother more fully.   BUT. the birds are not singing. There is a deep rumble, "I hate when my subs drop out" -Ben Perception check- a green dragon? "If we didn't kill the dragon, then whose skin am I wearing" -Merrli FIGHT. Eles casts Bless on the party WHY DO I HAVE "HER FROGGY SQUIRTS" about Richard's wife ANYWAY.   MANNY ENTERS THE FIGHT?! On the back of a giant elk. He has a new helm, and come with 3 people we don't recognize with a new emblem Manny and Dara share some kickass combat back and forth. Manny's back-up is a few guards, 2 rangers and a mage. We're fucking thrilled to see him. We're in a fight with a green dragon and a dryad lady, as well as some minions. it looks like the dragon is under the control of the dryad queen or w/e she is. Manny is kind of focused on fighting her. It seems like they have history. Dara gets the last hit on the green dragon. Merrli is fighting a group of dragon elementals (?) A DRACO-HYDRA?! Also under the command of the dryad queen.   Manny casts magic circle. Then stabs the dryad? and says "You left this behind, You're a fool if you think you can win with Asmodeus" "It's got me this far" "Take a backseat sweetheart" -Dryad "no backseats anytime soon" Some other magic and combat shenanigans. Eles does an ass ton of healing and staying out of the way of any breath weapons lol. Manny: "If I had a gold piece every time Yondalla will pay for your extended life...and Asmodeus will pay for your sins. To Merrli, the dryad says "You betrayed mother" To Eles, the dryad says, "Hey, pretty girl" and tree-strided behind me, Manny follows her. Eles casted Harm. Did she kill the dryad queen? At any rate, she ended up as a pile of ash. Manny gets the final hit on draco-hydra.   Perception on Manny: Eles notices he has more scars and a beard that's been grown for more than 2 months. We've been gone a long time. 3. fucking years. pretty sure Eles just starts sobbing at some point early in this conversation. and at some point in this, Hops shows up and we move inside a camp. The camp is like...right where we disappeared (absolutely brutally sad). It's also fairly sad that before the party knew it's been 3 years, we thought we'd pick up right where we left off with Manny...   Playing political catch-up, and these are SO scattered. Noziack and some of the gnomes are mostly on our side/ neutral leaning Sticky situation in Affgroth-siege-ish. Something about Cleeved and the Scaled Mother's revenge? Candlekeep: amazing resource of docs for current events. Resource for Hops.   THIS is where Eles just has a complete panic attack as she tries to explain what happened to them in Shadowfell. Pretty sure Dara hands her a flask and Eles doesn't immediately refuse it. Hops is standing outside. Dara is being held back back by guards.   Eles rolls 2 ONES on an insight check for Hops, maybe in general but also about Yanef. Eles ends up believing Hops and Manny, but not that Yanef is bad or good. There is something in Eles that doesn't want to trust Yanef. Her memory flashes back to a dream she had in Shadowfell where Lildentha told Eles "Don't trust anyone bearing the raven's feather" She thought that meant the followers in Shadowfell, but maybe it means people in the Shadowed Sanctum.   "Candlekeep is a bunch of nerds" verbatim quote from notes. This is Dara's biggest fear, missing the war.   This is practically nonsense to me but again verbatim from notes: ...Just something eating dead bodies quickly Resistance-while Manny was articles of resistance compounds   Merrli talks about how he's already tried to kill Asmodeus, but we also have to kill Malachar.   Eles tries to send a message to Al: "We're safe. Don't know how much time has passed. How have things been? Has anything gotten worse?"   Hops is not hoppy with us (lol) There's no book in Candlekeep like, "What's to expect when you're friends come back from hell"   We get real with Hops. He says we hurt Manny. Eles's thoughts: Does Manny trust us? He blames us? Hops certainly doesn't trust us Manny "I know my friends" "Manny believes us, believes that we are us" was this Eles?   Yondalla's been great, Manny is making soup and talking about her. We're still trying to get a hold on things. Dorath is a lot older. No idea: Trying to decide if we need to be introduced? or should we already be here? No tabaxi that we know died?   Eles: "So when do we kill gods?" "That's the most turned on to Eles I've ever been" -Dara   "3 freaks like this don't just die"   We decide to hold a war meeting. But Dorath wouldn't be there because he's ill. Yanef has been looking after him, but Eles is coming into this way more confident and wants to look over Dorath herself. Mithrow's good-works under the spymaster "Take it from me, holding grudges (guilt trips?) aren't cute" Dara? Merrli?   We decide to go to Affgroth. from my memory, Eles was pretty adamant about it. "It hasn't been that long, but it's war torn" Dara is crying. Dorath is keeping visitors. Can you ask Dorath if he wants to see Dara? " you (Hops?) told us to tell him that she's dead" "Manny, I don't pull rank" Dara: "But I will, so take us to my father"   DUN DUN DUNNNN!!!!!

We started our session fighting 9 humanoids who thought we were dangerous. Merrli smoked 6 of them in one go; "These are just guys!" They're basically monster hunter minute men, We wonder if it was okay/moral to kill them. Merrli thinks he actually killed like 7 people in one spell and wonders if he actually is a monster. Dara rolls an insight check- DM Hannah: "you're not the brains of the operation, but you're also good with instincts" We put hurt people at rest. How the evergloom effects the emotions at top of mind is the one that takes control. These people were close to becoming sorrowsworn.   We all pass evergloom checks. Day passes as normal, but TOO normal. It's hard to keep track. We set up camp, Al is still a moose. Merrli is staring at the flames Dara is going over past battle strategies. Al is trying to make a "lawful" bed   Perception check: Merrli Nat 20. Out of the gloom, we see a porcelain face. The Matron's sword, a piece of blade hanging from her neck. w/a raven w/ an emo fringe. "The servants would like to take you to the Fortress of Memories, to reclaim what has been lost" Eles realizes it's the same voice from her dreams. She greets Eles by name. The Fortress of Memories is a stronghold for the Raven Queen, she keeps things that are lost, both memories and items. It's kind of a purgatory. Eles falls to her knees and just starts crying-a release of emotion realizing that this is what she's been taught her whole life. "You have been through a lot. the Matron appreciates your dedication, even in the face of confusion. The woman kind of loses her composure. "the things she does kind of suck sometimes" The woman (Leldentha) says she could use a long rest too. Al starts berating her with questions, and she tells him to calm down. Eles asks if Manny is in the fortress, but when she messaged him, Eles heard him and some unknown other languages. So we still don't know where he is. "Are we cool?" Merrli asks. with his "Present state of living" "Are you going to kill me" Leldentha: " you are an abomination-usually we would, this conversation goes against our ethics. Something about in communion with the Raven Queen.   "Let's start at the beginning" different Matron sects: Sword, hands, mouth, eyes. The Eyes got a message, mouth is trying to understand it. Merrli is wanted/needed by the Matron. Revising her stance on the undead. Leldentha looks like an elf, but she's very pale with violet eyes. She's something different. She shakes Dara's hand. She tells us we all feel fragile. mortal. in a way that she doesn't, The port of broken dreams is not a place she's heard of. Shadowfell is a bit of a lawless place. The golden tree blooms a few times every year. The festival of color. She has a visible reaction to the ring on Merrli's hand. She is surprised. In Shadowfell, memories and items are important. The hands of the matron wears rings themselves. (New gig for Merrli?!?!) Someone asks if it's disrespectful to wear it? "No, but you may have accepted a role you didn't know about" it may be the reason so many touchstones have found Merrli. There may be a reason you want to gather memories. (OOOHHH, cause he's MISSING his?!) The Matron has words for him. Dara spars her. I don't really remember how it went, other than someone got a Nat 20, and the other got a 27. A rugby tackle and flip over a shoulder were involved.   After a long rest, "The afterlife is complicated" Leldentha draws something on the ground, a kind of dimension door. We get the ravens from our dreams! Flying through Shadowfell, a huge structure appears on the cliffside. "fucking huge" Absolutely dripping with ravens. They drop us at the front courtyard. Another masked figure is waiting for us. Shaved head, long purple robe holding a big tome. This is one of the Matron's mouths-Kindroth. "We cannot help you in the Fortress of Memories" they just translate for the Matron, the party will take place in trials. Guidance: one simple direction. Continue straight, do not become distracted. It is a place mortals can be lost in. We see a statue of the Raven Queen with her hand cupped in front of her, like waiting for an offering. Eles...without doing literally any of her usual perception or insight checks, puts one of Guatir's feathers into the hands. It falls through, but disappears. It seems to accept the offering and Eles forgets her entire relationship with Guatir. He's just a regular raven to Eles now. The party wonders how to proceed. Eles walks through the doors to the fortress first, but the doors close behind her. She's in a foyer, it has a feeling of coming home. We wonder if we have to do this individually. It seems like the Raven Queen would have made things more obvious. Eles opens the doors behind her again, and the party sees each other on either side of the doorway, but none of us can travel through.   Eles stays put, while the rest of the party examines the statue....it has an inscription "a memory precious, warm and bright the Raven Queen claims the right to keep into her care. Enter here your soul laid bare and trust the matron's watchful care" Al gives up the lantern Merrli gives up the tabaxi bracelet Dara gives up one of her gibbets, the memory of her first battalion. But then everyone is able to walk though the doors.   On the top of the doors? written in raven feathers? "Faith" Eles casts bless on the party. In front of the party are 2 doors. with Raven skull knockers. One has bark. then an incorporeal Manny appears, looking much older. "I don't have much time, you can come with me," and as if he's talking to other people, "Guys, I made contact" then booming sounds, he looks afraid. We decide to stay the course, going through the door. looking behind us, the door we walked through says "focus" on it.   The lights flicker and the floor falls out from under our feet. Al and Eles fail their saves, Merrli and Dara save. Al and Eles land on a hard surface. They find themselves in a room full of mirrors. Dara and Merrli are in a room, no, they're on a battlefield. Dara feels more determined and competent, knowing that she knows how to fight. This is the battle where she listened to her father and got a bunch of soldiers killed. Merrli sees a different battle, a village that he razed, witnessing himself in a feral rampage.   Eles sees different versions of herself, all of the times when she could have made different choices....including a "Valley Girl Eles" Al approaches a mirror, trying to see "a" true self. He reaches out to a mirror and seems to touch flesh. The reflection decomposes, comes back to life as a revenant version of him.   Now, at this point, Hannah the player has thought this whole time that the mouth's direction of "keep moving forward" is literal...so it worked out interestingly in rp, that Eles kind of seemed frozen in place, not wanting to interact with the room around her. She just wanted to find a way forward through the room. That in one of the mirrors in front of her was the doorway out...Not that it was a metaphorical "move forward" and Eles's puppet master continues to think far too literally lol.   In one of the mirrors, Eles sees a wood elf with a cracked Raven Queen mask. This is a version of Eles that became obsessed with (fire?) ROLL INITIATIVE. Dara sees herself riding a dire goat next to her mother, the champion. Merrli sees the monstrous version of himself. He feels disgusted, like he wasn't really a person. Revenant Al comes in with fist attacks. Evil Eles casts spiritual weapon. She speaks to Eles, "So you're going to ignore all of the teachings of the Raven Queen, everything you've been taught. I cast Blight at 5th level. Again, me as Eles's puppet master still don't know what's going on, so I didn't want to go all out. Meanwhile, she casts Harm for like a bunch of damage. "Those who don't follow the Matron deserves to die, and that includes you" Normal Eles: "I know what I do is good" "The Matron is what we make her." I lose concentration on Bless.   Merrli sends his ghost to evil Merrli, as evil merrli popped back up with 1hp "What am I?" "A hero, once. And unfortunately again" (UGH, OUCH) Merrli then looks to Dara in her fight "I can't leave Dara alone"   Dara's double is yelling at her, "You killed them" "Maybe it's time I trusted myself more" was this Dara or Eles?   Is this Eles to Evil Eles? "It's because I listened and left that you can trust me." "I listened to Her, I listened to people who were not Her as well."   Al and Revenant Al: "I will have revenge for dooming me to this existence." "We took a deal"   Eles: " I know I am real. I have done good. You are not real. You are something that will..." I can't read my next word oops Al: "Three unknown specimens landed at my abode. They knew things I didn't know. One of them (is that?) (Made a?) sacrifice and be noble. So make the sacrifice, or I may need to". Al casts spike growth to bring him to his knees. Reaches his hand out to his revenant self and says "please" and his hoof touches his, he remembers. I have disjointed notes from this: deal with Malachar, strange land devoid..."he will come back for you" then the lantern is in his hand   "How can we forgive ourselves?" "The easy way is to forget, the goal is to seek the hope that these three individuals have." Our door opens.   Meanwhile, with the Battlefield Bitches, Merrli casts shatter. Dara says to her double "You were following orders" something like how I can I not feel at fault, I knew they were bad orders. They also go through the door. Al and Eles looking beat to fuck, white as sheets. Al had like 17hp, Eles had like 23hp. Dara is crying. The door behind us spells "reflection" Lildenth walks into the room. The party passed their trials. It's time to talk to the mouth and eye. We are in a communing room, black and purple flames. The room is full of shit. We can hear memories as a cacophony. Al: "I was teaching my niece how to fish" "How long?" Length is difficult in Shadowfell. The eyes and mouth join- Kindroth and Nyla. Nyla is at the bowl.   Merrli goes first. and stays looking in the bowl for a long time. Then Nyla stands up and leaves, comes back after another while. "The Matron cannot outright break your contract. But the goddess of memory can restore what has been lost. She she wants to give you this. A halberd/spear appears. It shimmers silver with gold accents. The jewels on it are pastel. Details of his death are still hazy. His right hand is not undead and the ring is glowing. "This will act as a blessing from the Raven Queen. If you are in need of a new purpose of finding memories..." I got so excited I didn't write down the end of the quote lol   Eles next- looking into the water, she sees her reflection, as a comfort this time. Out of the water, Guatir takes a (glass of water?) (Glass like water?) and puts it into my hand. Nyla and Kindroth leave for A LONG TIME. Long enough for a short rest. Kindroth walks back in, looking kind of frazzled, but trying to hide it. I again, get too excited to really write everything down. "The matron gives us all..." the upshot of which was that I was given a new role from the Raven Queen, the Matron's mirror. "The Matron's mirror shall provide the wisdom for her followers and serve as the mirror for when the Matron needs it most. An example being, trusting Merrli, despite it being against the conventional teachings of the Matron.   Dara Next: A skilled warrior and strategist. The Raven Queen gives Dara information about the battle, a book, a piece of knowledge about the demon wars that has been forgotten.   Al last: We do not do this very often, but you are resilient and resourceful. On behalf of the Fortress to build a sanctuary. He has a boat, so he gets the choice for rest. "Resting in a refuge seems correct" "Lawful rampage in the archives" He wants 3 things. 1. A ship 2. 2 helpers. Mr. Bonez and the mother from that family we ran into. and 3. Every night is a full moon"   There is then a bright flash and Merrli, Dara and Eles are back on the Material Plane where they first fell into Shadowfell. It's day time?

We picked up after the fight in the Port of Broken Dreams. Merrli found and put on a wedding ring. The undead crew definitely had connections to Asmodeus. Al tried to figure out if this fight was any different than previous attacks, this was the first time an attack had a leader. We took a short rest before heading out into the gloom. Dara was still kind of freaking out. Eles told her to "get a fucking spine"   During the walk through the evergloom, we reflected on our emotions Al-focused Merrli-uncertain Dara-overwhelmed, unvaluable Eles-determined walking further into the land, mostly plains. Our primary feelings are of overwhelm.   In Eles's mind, she's focused inward, but guatir nips at her ear and starts asking the party questions about memories. In childhood, Dara would hide in a crystal cave/tunnel that wasn't known by adults. Eles tells her the best places in childhood are ones that adults don't know about.   "You don't understand/enjoy the fun novelty of the absurd" Matthew to Ben. I have no idea what the context was lol.   talking about Curse of the Evergloom mechanics. I think it was Al who said "I believe the common folk calls it 'suck balls'".   Eles's first touchstone is her amulet.   We pass a monolith in the middle of a field and a stone structure on the outskirts. The monolith has an inscription: "None are so blind that they cannot see the darkness of this place. Look not upon the face of the wailing one, tread not on the bones of mad men." Merrli Arcana check 21: very little magic energy wind picks up, and we start heading toward the structure. We have a con save.   In the stone structure, we find a man, woman and child. I think Merrli goes in first? Maybe it was Al. The woman, very much in distress, says, "are you with her?" (I thought she might be talking about the Raven Queen, so I walk in last and send guatir up to the roof just in case.) "kill this crazy bitch that's following us" so obviously not the Raven Queen. The woman has trouble remembering how old the child is. She eventually relaxes.   Al, i think, asked how long did it look like they had been there. On a nat 20, the structure is ramshackle, they dodged in here for shelter, probably very recently.   Merrli and Eles speak to the child, but mostly Merrli gets the credit for all of this. The kid, Tommy, talks about his younger brother, Teddy. His mom's name is Theresa, and he just knows the man as "Dad". Tommy asks if we can bring his brother back. Merrli connects with Tommy, Tommy thinks he's some kind of god, or superhero. We coax out a description of the scary woman.   Guatir sees something that is not particularly stealthy. Female elf, pale white skin, spirit, tattered dress, about 30 ft away.   FIGHT!   We have to make sure to stay out of her field of vision, else we become feared! We eventually defeat her.   We tell the family to head for the Port of Broken Dreams.   As we long rest in the shack, we all tell stories about ourselves to try and keep our memories and sanity in check. Eles examines the Raven Queen Mask again, reaching out to either her or the former owner of the mask. 28 religion check I slip into my trance and I'm flying on the raven again, with the same presence behind me. They ask; "So you're back" Eles, "I needed more answers, was this sent by the Raven Queen?" Them, "The Raven Queen sent me here, the mask was the sign." We wake up, make an evergloom check and an encounter check. Which we were extremely lucky on   Another Day, Another Evergloom Check. Al is a moose that night...but also stays as a moose...   Perception check: we see a group of shambling rag-tag humanoids arguing amongst themselves. Wondering if we are monsters Al gets offended by being called a moose...it looks like we may be heading into a fight. Eles casts calm emotions

After defeating the Brother Plot, we decided to go to Eles's home, the Shadowed Sanctum! said our goodbyes, heading out of the Maine Gate I asked the Raven Queen through divination does the same fate await the Shadowed Sanctum? "It was not yet determined" Came across a dead carcass with corvids. It was a dead moose, split apart. It was not a magical death. We decided to keep moving. Resting for the night: Dara and Eles keep first watch. Dara asks Eles what her home was like.   Manny and Merrli keeping watch Merrli: "I am a concubine" "I'm going to misty step with the ghost into you" "Can I enter you" Manny to Merrli   Merrli and Eles communicating with Lorathian -Can they break the curse -Will you break the curse As we're discussing the questions Merrli would want asked, Eles asked merrli if he would want to know anything about his former life. And for that, Merrli got shunted to Hell: Spider Court. He got summoned to his "sentencing hearing" Tidepod was his attorney lol "You caught me on the wrong day, I'm snatched" Guilty of not following directions In my defense...you own my soul... "Hate our relationship, glad we agree on that" 12 demerits Punishment: forfeit their memories of his mortal life. His memory of pledging to Lorathion Another punishment: the seal shall be carved on his lower back and his ears turn into donkey ears   Eles had woken up Manny and Dara, panicked that Merrli disappeared again. But he reappears and we launch pretty much directly into the divination with Lorathion: "I have not seen you in centuries" He didn't know what had happened to Merrli. "Can you break this curse?" -yes "Will you" -partially "Do you like me?" -yes On a religion check: Partially-Lorathion isn't allowed to do anything active to Merlli's curse   Dawn is breaking -on the road we see an infernal pool. A lot of discussion about whether or not to go in it. But it's where our DM wants us to go, so we go! and Manny fucking DISAPPEARS. we were HOODWINKED! "Wake the fuck up bitch, you're in hell" Falling endlessly-in a black void, can't see anything, can't communicate with each other. Merrli wonders if this was the same feeling as the blank void that Eles and Manny have experienced, but Eles knew it felt different. We land in a pile, taking some damage. We see pale and shadowy landscape, dull shades. We see no sun or stars, stray dim light pervades the area, mist and fog. On a 28 perception, Eles seems to know where we are, but that the information is blocked from her. She feels like she does know, and should remember the name at least, doesn't have the ability to access that knowledge. (Are we actually in SHADOWFELL?) (Is this part of the Raven Queen's fortress domain?) I also see 5 monsters in our way. Some zombie-things and big rat things? The zombies were saying "finally" and whispered "lost" a lot Thoughts of being lost overwhelm Merrli during one of their attacks. Whispered "You are lost" to Eles as it died. Eles and Dara could feel similar feelings of desperation to what Merrli felt too.   We meet Ben's PC: a/s/l Age: ??? Kind of old? Sex: Probably male Tiefling- one horn is an antler Holding a lantern and a falcon or eagle? Name: Al   Joins our party, sees Merrli, thinks our group is weird Wretches and losts Religion check on Al: He has a special whiff of the Raven Queen on him One of his horns is a broken antler Bringing us to the port of broken dreams- looks like somewhere people go to wither. Lots of talk of shambling, a parody of life. "dark flutters" of hell pixies "Robert, Bobby" political rival Al's home is a fisher's hut -no soul- We introduce each other. I say I'm from the Shadowed Sanctum. Al said he had always wanted to visit, but they turned him away. "Mr. Bones, traveling salesman" box of spiders, broken Raven Queen's mask, beer stein. Seems like items specifically made for us "Touching Mr. Bones is not a fun interaction" Someone was filled with a feeling of dispair I couldn't complete a divine intervention to get us the hell out of here. It felt like my power was blocked again. Al gives up a memory so Eles can have the Raven Queen's mask. Says it's a gift. Eles resolved to repay this kindness. We talk about why we think Manny disappeared, Why some of my magic is blocked "A gleam in your hole"   Eles cast sending to Manny: "We seem to be safe, but in hell, do you know where you are? Can we get to you? Manny's response: "Ellie! Hello! I'm ok. Not in hell, as far as I can tell. I seem to be..." [Manny begins speaking in an unknow language. You don't know what language and you don't understand.]   During my trance: Flying on the back of Guatir, we are above the realm we seem to be in. There is someone just out of my right side view, with a porcelain mask. Everyone else is behind me. I look for Manny, just he isn't there I ask the figure in my side view, "Are you Her, or are you someone we have to find" "I'll find you" "Is there anything else I need to know" "The Port of Broken Dreams holds no more answers, Our time together grows short. Do not trust anyone bearing the raven's feather Before I wake up, I see a dark fortress, absolutely DRIPPING with ravens.   The Sorrowsworn Evergloom: terrible, no good, very bad fog. Lose a bit of yourself in it. dusk dust Eles asking Al if he wants to come with us "Al has the most prolapsed anus in all hell" Justin Time- growing things in the swamp to the east "We're having a brat hell" We hear the port's warning bell Horde with the lost and wretches *Eles hasn't put the mask on yet* The night before the battle day, I cast create food and water. Cast Holy Weapon and/or Freedom of Movement and/or Dara and/or Merrli

Alternative selves were still in the arena   Yondalla "promoted"?   Vibe check on Yanef: shocked, traumatized, her first fight. On a bad religion check: Druidic gentle repose Hops teleported away with his "Hoppin' spells"   Manny talks to Dara about Umstrek   "I don't know how to tuck tits" "Locking Beards"   Questions to Youthstone: 1. What were your instructions? a: to seize the day and conquer the city   2. What was the goal of the Brothel Plan? a. Where else do you think the most important people go?   3. Why does Abbathor think Shug-wai is kind? a. She was warm and inviting   4. What other deities are you working with? a. The Divine Accord (DM said that literally none of us know anything about it, and meta-wise he literally only came up with a name for it like, days beforehand)   5. What happened w/ Lolth and Abbathor to cause fighting? a. I know not of any conflict (then why did she tell Merrli to kill those cultists on the mtn.?)   Merrli calls Lolth-against all of our insistences He basically gets eaten by the earth and has an audience f2f with Lolth. Her Worshippers and bodyguards were around her, and she was in a nest. Lolth: "Abbathor's plaything was getting annoying" Merrli: "You don't take a clown and shoot them in the back of the head" Lolth: "His toy grew tiresome" (the wizard?) Merrli: Was this Abbathor-endorsed? Does he want what we have? Lolth comes out of the nest, seemingly angry "You answer to ME. Not the other way around. You will kill Locke keyfiddler. Accept my demands? Merrli refuses. Lolth: "I will gather my punishment later"   Merrli asks is the Raven Queen is a bitch? Calls some deity a bitch I think.   Yanef is FREAKED out, thinks Merrli is an abomination.   Dorath and Dara convo: Dara trying to convince him to actually lead, but he pulls age on Dara. Fun Fact: Dorath is 279 years old Dorath: "Umstrek, never have kids" Umstrek: "I'm a lesbian, never having them anayway"   I pull Yanef away to try and talk to her. Eles kind of loses it and tells Yanef that she needs to follow them, that she knows it doesn't make any sense, but the Matron sent her on this path for a reason. Kindly DM let me roll a religion check to use my religious knowledge to persuade Yanef that things are chill or w/e Yanef bowed to me as a peer, not as a mentor to student. Eles wants to apologize to Yanef about this "outburst". She still has things she needs to tell Yanef.   Dorath was "distraught" over some reaction of Dara's.   On our investigations to the brothel, none of the corpses look like commoners, 2 people were alive. Eles is casting Spare the Dying whenever she can to help stabilize people. We meet up with Captain O'Hare. Perception check on the bodies; 4 dead, 1 mostly dead. Small round, polished brass amulets, Abbathor cult amulets!   Next group was 5 people, all looked professionally killed. At the 4th brothel, larger, more popular, more affluent. Hairy Goat-14 dead outside. One of the clan leader's associates among the dead.

We start the session heading to the arena and the box with Dorath, Tiny, Yanef and Lir'Bith. Perception checks as we're running: corpses are grouped together, but not evenly littered. Investigation check: the corpses are congregated around brothels, but none of the bodies are the prostitutes.   We discuss what we're expecting when we get to the arena. Why/How did they get trapped and why didn't they fight back? Mallon/Manny: maybe Dorath is being threatened with his hidden hard drive, that is just LOADED with halfling porn. Dutton/Eles does this they might be being threatened, maybe with Dorath losing his power over the city. Is the cult trying to take over the city, or just destroy it or cause general mayhem. Kate/Dara thinks they might have been overpowered and are just being held captive. At any rate, we are definitely walking into a trap.   As we continue, fewer people. but of the people we see it's mostly guards. The main bridge crossing was destroyed. Everyone made it over, except Eles. Dara tied a rope to her handaxe to help Eles climb up.   After 12 minutes of jogging, Manny gets a message from Yanni. "We have a visitor for you" sounding not at all concerned about Affgroth. Because she had no idea anything was happening. She's very concerned that this will be blamed on the halflings. Yanni is also very vague about who Manny's visitor was. We all pretty much think it's Hops. (I have a very fun image of a small halfling bounding down the streets of Affgroth in full plate mail. Very cute, but very wrong!)   Entering the arena, we can see straight into the fighting pit. We hear insane wizard laughter in our heads as Youthstone holds his hands up.   We decide to head to the box first to try and rescue hopefully all of the NPCs. but we just find Dorath and Tiny surrounded by hobgoblins. Tiny broke the bonds on Dorath. Miraculously, Eles broke the bonds on Dorath. as we finish defeating the baddies, we walk out onto the box platform,   At some point, either the druid or wizard summoned our alternate reality PCs.   FUCKING WIZARD BULLSHITTERY.   THEN, we get our OWN wizard!   (brothel plan) Dorath "just listened"

Starting at the top of the mountain, the party investigated for any way the cult may get into the mountain from this campsite. Manny (on a Nat 20 investigation) found a trap door underneath the altar cart. The door was trapped with fire, which Manny avoided, but Dara was too slow and got singed.   We took a short rest, Eles brought Guatir back, who Manny was VERY worried about. A skinnier Guatir returned. Merrli lobbed his very round and happy ghost into the dark opening. Everything looked clear of people and he could see a light at the end of the tunnel.   We went down the ladder and down the corridor, going further down into the mountain. There are more and more little bits of crystal that Dara chipped a little bit of the crystals off for all of us. I had some note about "Best Friends Forever", "What a weird thing to say". I have no idea what that was in reference to.   After about a half an hour walk, the light getting brighter. We have to look around a corner (an obtuse corner?) with a straight up campfire.   There were like, 9 people, 9 dwarf-like beings. On someone's religion check, we discover these aren't real dwarves. They were fey. These fey were trapped. I think it was Eles that heard them say "set us free". They turned into firey/icy piles. On some other check, we discover fey can be summoned to do different tasks. 1. act as sentries 2. act on the front lines 3. act as miners.   Someone got a Nat 20 for something (Merrli on a perception check?). We walk 10 more minutes, everything getting brighter still. Also still descending. We reach a cavern with 4 Dwarves, 2 hobgoblins, 1 gnome and 1 being hidden in the shadows that only Merrli could see thanks to the Nat 20.   now fighting notes are nonsense:   "staff dwarf + druid dimension door" (complete meta-gaming from Dutton: a multiclass Circle of Spores Druid and Blood Hunter is rad af) "suck mommy" "The priest" A Yuan-ti ended up   *Kindness as a swords name.   Manny ended up charmed by the Yuan-ti (?) and ordered to "kill the cleric"-talking about Eles. He hit Eles at least once, for not a paltry amount.   We killed everything except the Yuan-ti, and one of the more powerful druids.   We decide to not continue to follow the bad guys and turn back. Eles cast Speak with Dead and asked: (to the best of my memory) 1. Is your priest the boss (We thought about asking what the priest's name was) -Yes, he's the boss/leader 2. Why are you contracting hobgoblins? -IDK 3. Who is Abbathor working with? -Abbathor insists that Shug-wai is good (?) 4. Are you attacking the halflings for a tactical reason? -They do not deserve it (wtf is "it"? to know their god? Happiness?) 5. Where would the 2 guys end up if they continued down the corridor? -the start of the mine.   I think we camped at the top of the mountain. Some of us were concerned that we might being bad heat on Half Town if we went there for the night.   In the morning, we headed to Affgroth, to something large and unexpected, groups of people. We see Affgroth has sufferent an attack overnight. It wasn't at the same time we were battling stuff, but afterward? So did our battle rush along plans?   We meet Captain O'Hare who reports attacks, explosions, and "armies of people" Lots of dead in the street. Dorath hadn't been seen, Eles cast a sending spell to him. Something along the lines of "I am Dara's friend. Where are you, who are you with"   His answer: "We are stuck in the box. Youthstone has Tiny, LirBith, Yanef, and I. Umstrek is undercover to get to Captain Ohare. Is Dara safe?" Eles didn't answer him, to not use another spell slot. I originally thought Captain O'Hare was bad from that phrasing, but that might not be the case.   We ended on a sneak mission to the Colosseum boxes.     Also important to note that our fearless leader and DM decided to lie on the ground and physically role-play the dead body lol

Eles started the session with 2 levels of exhaustion. While Eles and Merrli dealt with the dwarf mountaineer, Manny and Dara spoke with the guards. Dara pulled rank and we brought the Dwarf- Shattermantle- to Dara's private rooms. Manny cast Zone of Truth   The incomplete interrogation records lol: Manny asks a question about halflings, her response: "Halflings go missing a lot"   MB: Why ice axes? SM: Ice axes are common   MB: Why were you running? SM: "The guards and I have a bad rep" "I don't worship who they want me to" something about Dara, "You're a Proudstone"?   Mantis seems pretty pissed at this point, Merrli and Eles are kind of hanging at the edge of the scene.   MB: "I'm going to go into myself. I'm the 1st paladin (did he mention of Yondala?) I want to protect the halfling town"   Something about first name "Hearthbreaker"   22 intimidation from Dara SM: "I'm not killing off halflings" Someone: "Got any friends?" SM: "Plenty of friends" "You can make a martyr of me"   MB: "You think it's right to be killing halflings"? No answer from Shattermantle She is then intimidated by Manny, she seemed surprised and a little bit scared of his power. intimidated by Dara and had fear cast on her by Merrli. THEN, she's terrified.   "There are many of us" "I've yet to be on a mission" We're asking about her god, not Asmodeus or Malachar. She worships Abbathor   "What did he offer you?" SM: "land, gold, riches, freedom from these oppressive times" "The halflings brought this on, halflings are cursed" halflings aren't from "the right kind of god" Yondala is "not a real god", she is "some plaything brought in by someone else" Abbathor: god of greed. But there are many kinds of worship to him. Most of the mainstream worshippers do not subscribe to her ways.   Have not established what the Raven Queen's afterlife looks like.   Manny decides to take her to half-town so they can decide what to do with her. Nanny said that she wanted to watch her rot in a cage on the outskirts of town.   the cult making trouble in town is definitively connected to the halfling murders.   LONG REST! Dara and Eles had fitful sleeps (well, sleep and a trance). Dara's are generally about the fights and Umstrek makes appearances in most of them. Eles dreams of her forest burning for a second times. Eles woke up from her dream and immediately cast death ward on Manny We bought some potions from the woman half-orc alchemist in town.   We reach the top of the mountain and all of the climbing equipment is gone. As we're tracking the path, Merrli invoked Lloth, she told us where the bad guys were and charged Merrli to "kill them". Eles is absolutely freaked out and kind of pissed. We see the group with circled caravans. Guatir did some recon, find no children, and sees an altar, with MANY symbols, especially of Abbathor. There are 12 tenents of Abbathor, each one thinks theirs is the most important. No one really seems to be a clear leader in the group.   MUCH discussion of what we should do. Talking about morality, now stuck between wanting answers but also have this Lloth thing over our heads.   Eles and Manny end up talking to a main guy and boy howdy I should have taken more notes during this part, but I, the PLAYER was nervous! When the talks devolved and we told one too many lies, I sent Guatir to signal to Dara and Merrli and he got SHOT and POOFED! What I do remember from that convo was that they really have a low opinion of Halflings. Eles is pretty pissed again. We win the encounter. Investigated the altar- fairly standard, traces of fresh blood, but Abbathor doesn't require blood sacrifices. There are gouges out of the altar like claws. The altar has been there for 2-3 years, portable, there is dust on the carriage, cased in snow.

I think what I have learned most since leaving home is how to obfuscate facts. What I have been fearing since getting into Affgroth has happened. I met an envoy from home. It was not how I expected it to be. I thought I would be elated to see one of my mothers. Yanef is a close mentor, dedicated to education and peacekeeping. Instead, I am left with a sinking dread that something terrible is going to happen. Something terrible has happened. The ravens are disappearing from home. That is not why Yanef is here, actually on a similar mission as our own; to create stronger bonds with other cities and cultures in the world. She wants to call those of us who are out in the world back (ooc; especially Eles?), but she was overruled. Yanef believes that our best investigators should be at home. That I was to be called back if it were up to her. A sinking feeling began in my stomach. Yanef did not seem overly affected by meeting Guatir. Before me, there were only 5 (ooc; was it 5?) others that had received ravens from the Matron. One of them that is still with us returned home recently. The last time one of the ravens disappeared was several thousand years ago. And it was here that I regret replying with "during the last Demon Wars". I am unsure if anyone else has had this revelation. It is a scary revelation to me still. We are standing at a precipice. Yanef has yet to discover that I resurrected Manny. I feel as if I am holding a great secret. I am not regretful that I chose Manny over the Scaled Mother, I would do it a thousand times over. But, I do feel...embarrassed? Nervous that I will have disappointed someone or that they disagree with my actions and see what I did as an affront to the Raven Queen. All I want is to do my part for my home. And now my home is growing past the Shadowed Sanctum. Yanef also seemed particularly interested in my interactions with the Lizardfolk and obviously with my early interactions with Malachar. Oh, it is far too much to catch her up on. My head is only with Dara in the fighting pit. She has done well, although I am anxious she goes into matches without the help of any of my magic. Not because I think she needs it, but because I want to see her succeed. I know no one who can swing an axe like she can. She and I have been spending quite a lot of time around each other, and I with her family in the viewing box. Manny and Merrli have likewise been investigating the deaths of Halflings in their town.

The first 2 days at the city of Affgroth have been eventful. Dara got into a fight almost immediately. Which was interrupted by Dara's father Dorath. Thankfully, I was healing Dara quite a lot. Dorath is very different than the parents and authority figures I grew up with. Very cold, never touched Dara who he has not seen in years. He basically gave us 3 of the city's problems to solve in order to actually get an audience with the council. Although, I think I overheard something about her being banished from the city. There are goblins terrorizing the north tunnels of the city, there is a ship or something like that missing? and the water levels of the city are 4cm lower than they usually are. We also met Tiny and Joey, 2 of Dorath's bodyguards who seem very close to Dara. She is still a very closed off figure to me in a lot of ways. She may even be closed off to herself. Before we met her father, she seemed nervous so we talked through our goals with her. She did not want to come back to Affgroth, but we need to the Dwarves to know about the brewing war. Dara did not need to go to her father with her tail between her legs. Dara is an accomplished fighter. She is coming to the city with important information. I think she did well. The "meeting" was short, and we decided to find lodging in Half-town. In a complete tone-shift, the people in the halfling bar recognized Dara but absolutely welcomed her. It was also nice to see Manny comfortable in that bar. He met some followers of Yondala and stayed in her temple overnight. Thankfully Guatir has taken to Manny and they stayed together. He received a boon from Yondala, a beautiful breastplate. Manny is quite attached to his own armor, he suggested I wear it, I still just had some leftover elven chain from our travels. Usually I loathe wearing armor, but this plate is remarkable. I feel more alert and powerful beyond the extra protection. I have only reached out to Yondala on my own once. When I brought Manny back. Not an ideal way to meet a goddess for the first time. I do not think the Matron was happy with me either. The domains of Yondala and the Matron do not seem to be in complete opposition. I think it means something that Guatir likes Manny so much. Beyond the obvious fact that Manny is very likeable. Dara is likeable as well, and Merrli, well, I still do not know what to make of him. His ghost registers as undead to me, but not evil or celestial. It is something, else. Some days I feel completely overwhelmed with our small party's mission. When I set out from home, I had no idea what the Matron had in store for me. Merrli was put in my path for a reason. I am on this path for a reason.   I wish I had some of the druids from home to help with the water. I wish I had anyone from home. It's been so long since I've spoken elvish. There is so much of home that I miss. Guatir is a comfort, but I have not done a proper worship for the Raven Queen in months. I have to admit, like Dara, I am reticent to return home. Will it be seen as a failure? Will Merrli seem like an act of aggression? The Raven Queen does want to keep the line between life and death clear, and he smudges that line. Maybe Manny does too. I do not know of anyone in my family that cast a spell like the one I did. We don't try and bring people back. Either keep them alive or keep them dead. That is the way of things. A sibling older than me would be better suited to this than I. They are more experienced and have more education. Much of the magic I use has been learned by necessity and panic in some cases. Perhaps I am a messenger in all of this. Once we talk to the Dwarves and visit home, one of my siblings who actually wields a weapon will be called to fight. And whatever is the will of the Matron, I will follow.

Dara kicks in the war room doors. We entered a long chamber, more like a "planning room" than a "war room". We see Dara's father (Dorath) and 2 guards, Tiny and Joey. Tiny is a large dwarf and Joey has a prosthetic leg. Joey gave Dara a note, she laughed derisively and said she doesn't plan on staying in Affgorth. The rest of the party (I think) told Dara that she does not have anything to prove to her father. We are here with important information that Dorath should listen to. We need the aid of the Dwarves in the upcoming Demon War II. Dara tells Dorath that we have more important things to talk about than his ego. Dorath pushes 3 pieces of paper towards us. Something about Dara accepting a banishment?   -Goblins are terrorizing the North Tunnels -Silverhead missing ("L. Dorath?") -water levels are 4cm lower than usual   other random notes from that meeting: "banished captain" Civil Unrest ?"Killing pats + mats" Abboleth priests?   We agree to work on the three things in order to...get an actual audience with Dorath and the council. Walking out of the building, Dara notices the waterfall used to look better, not just one problem   Half-town is the only borough without a seat on the council Staying the night in half-town (Manny sees odd things?) The bartender recognizes Dara and she schmoozes with them and buys them all drink   Manny talks to the bartender and the owner- Ninny and Nanny. Manny asking them about halfling deaths in the city. He is told there didn't used to be tension, there is some now. Some notes that there was no fighter for the Proudstones, that was supposed to be Dara? So an Opalbraid fought, but still lost. Dara likes his dad very little. The barkeep slyly drew a symbol of Yondala for Manny. It's a symbol from a more radical sect of Yondala followers and they head toward a temple.   Lore drop about the current state of political affairs in Affgroth. "Eldroth's matriarch"? a ship has not been seen in 6 months? 5 families-5 clans. lots of in-clan fighting. Especially the Proudstones and Opalbraids Cragcloak, Smeltbreaker, Coalmane are the other 3 clans. Whoever wins the kinsfolk festival is leader of council for 2 years until the next festival.   Eles and Merrli investigate his ghost familiar. He flags as "undead" to Eles as well as "not evil" and "not celestial" but still undead...weird.   Merrli investigates the water levels, the water's slow, like there's something in the way or something was diverting it.   Manny gave his story to the barkeep's wife, a priestess of Yondala "he took that as a sign he didn't understand" is that about Manny? She did not believe Manny's power comes from Yondala. He falls asleep in the temple with Guatir nearby.   -- Next Session   Manny had dreams w/Yondala -Manny and Hops hanging out with folks, some who Manny know to be dead -2nd dream not bad but making preparations for famine. Also a form of worship to Yondala -Manny alone, fighting something, he doesn't remember but recognizes it as him. He's gleaming with radiant power, embued with some power. Manny woke up and found the priestess. She reveals she's had dreams of famine, but they've been intermittent. Manny fills her in on what's happened. Ninny ends up believing Manny   Dara woke up being dragged by Umstrek Axeshoulder. Basically threatens Dara to not make a fool of the family. Vibe of "How dare you leave" Umstrek is not concerned about the reputation of Dorath, but the respect for her family in general. "straighten up and fly right"   Manny also finds a breastplate, after a lot of conversation, it's given to Eles.   Investigating the water first, before Dara's tournament fight. Sprawling canals, 5ft deep, made for barges. Water or barges are controlled by druids*. We try to find where the current changes. Merrli finds the current and he finds a long tube sucking up a lot of water. Kind of normal, but Merrli and Manny investigate further while Dara and Eles head for the tournament grounds.   At the tournament grounds. Lots of people selling things. Oracles calling out to people. Eles does not choose cards from an oracle. Dara chooses cards from an oracle. She pulls the River and Bargain cards. Themes of the day: exchange/sacrifice and choice. The fates are watching over her. Dara wins her fight and is scheduled for the next day, the third of ??. She is fighting on behalf of the halflings so they can have a voting seat on the council   Manny and Merrli fight gnomes and goblins that were working in the mountain on their own, some kind of illicit activity. The two of them fight alone for a while. Dara and Eles eventually join when they're also fighting a cave troll.   We try and figure out who to talk to. Dara suggests telling Tiny, but he's not as his home. Instead we meet "Big T", Tiny's son. He calls Dara "Aunt" and both my heart and Eles's absolutely melt. Dara's next competition is against the Opalbraids.

We began on a larger boat, "armed to the teeth". Dara 23 history check: The Dread Run is a fast river that connects directly to the sea. Brackish, mysterious waters. In times of need, there is a way to fish in the river   setting off around noon- first 8 hours were uneventful 2nd 8 hours: I rolled a perception check to see a gnome attach a note to a raven. I had guatir follow and steal the note from the raven. He does that without the other raven noticing. Merrli shoots the raven out of the sky. I talked to the gnome, he (?) had 3 kids-lost 2 to a fever in cindermire 4-ish years ago   The note contained information about us in a religious cult language-most of which grew out of asmodeus cults. I tracked the gnome to the hold while yelling at the rest of the party. Manny was in the kitchen with the cook. The gnome was actively hiding in a crate. We roll initiative. We're debating on whether or not to kill him, I snapped a little and just said to kill him and if we feel like it, I can revivify him. I think during this, Guatir nips at me and I totally ignored it. Manny casts zone of truth after Dara killed the gnome and I revivified him.   The gnome (Gnomble Thumblethumb?) was instructed to gather information on us, but was not privy to all of the information about the larger goals. He is specifically a spy for his wife-the matriarch of his family, I have "asked the raven for his family? -ravens specifically" I have no idea what we asked him. But it makes me think that this cult was specifically baiting me/Eles. We asked which container was his, killed him and cast gentle repose so he could not become undead for 10 days. We opened his chest and didn't find much, a sketch of his family and some furs   The boat suddenly and unexpectedly ran aground, the dock was kind of far away from us and was empty, kind of weird as other docks were active. I cast control water and got us to the dock. 7 goblins- Dara crit twice! the goblins invoked Malachar's name, someone was sent a letter by General Tiefus (or was that the lead goblin?)   Heading to Affgroth: it turns out we're there for a huge holiday, a celebration of a great victory several hundred years ago. There was camping outside of the city gates. I scryed on Eles's home- it made Eles feel homesick, but everything looked normal.   "one hour past dawn" (?). A halfling approached the gate with 3 sheep in tow. Manny ran up to them. notes that make no sense "'halftown' Juli" No idea what that means.   We got Dara involved in a fight with "Umstrike Axeshoulder" because Dara was the daughter than ran away. I have a note that says "bitch is STRONG" talking about Axeshoulder. I also have a note "Dara is fighting an LT" no idea what "LT" is   5 rounds into combat, with Eles healing Dara a couple of times, we hear a booming voice telling them to stop fighting. It's Dara's father Dorath Proudstone who demands that he and Dara speak privately. Dara refuses (hell yeah bitch). We get him to give us some time before entering the war room.   I have another nonsense note "Underground water under mountain, Venice" OH, is that because this city is kind of like an underground Venice?   We ended the session with Dara charging into the war room

We are helping the Tabaxi bring the Lizardfolk back to the Tabaxi capital via a Tabaxi camp closer by. Mithraw (sp.?) was the Tabaxi that got turned into a halfling. I think I remember it being a reincarnation through a wild magic surge? He (?) and Manny spent a lot of time together, with Mithraw asking Manny "how do you be a halfling." During one of our discussions, Merrli was surprised that it was the 2nd age.   The Lizardfolk stuck VERY close to Eles, including the main priest (?) that was brought back. Eles asked them what had happened in the temple right before they died. Their memories are muddled, but they remember a massive earthquake, the cube of the scaled mother appeared with the Soul Slice sword and a cube formed around them. There was something else about casting spells to form the space around them, but the Yuan-ti stopped them and killed them presumably. Krinrez corroborates that with the texts they've read, but Soul Slice was not the Scaled Mother's sword. Was it the sword that killed her?   There was a glint of silver in the road, Dara recognized it? Interlocking rings-symbol of true silver, Doulin/Braynore or Baranore silver? At any rate, Dare was definitely hiding something from the party.   On our travel to the camp, Eles saw a cobalt flash about 10ft off the road. A snake woman appeared, screaming "You killed my sister" and threw 6 daggers, Krinrez took 53 damage and died or went unconscious. One dagger was thrown at Eles while she was totally focused on bringing Krinrez back up. A raven appeared and took the damage for Eles. After the assassination attempt, Dara investigated the dagger, it was made by a famous swordsmith, made during the demon wars, super magical and something about dark blue smoke, did it disappear? Merrli investigated the dagger that was in the raven and he determined that the dagger is enchanted to deal poison and continue dealing poison as the knife stays embedded. Merrli gave it to the Tabaxi ranger.   Dara and Merrli had a conversation about his death and "corpses should stay dead". They also talked about Dara's motivations and possible signs from a god? That night Dara dreams about training with her mentor. Sees the Doulin symbol of true silver.   More traveling with Tabaxi. They tell us about their lives/culture: Taj'it is a beautiful large tree in the capital (?). 3 weeks (ish) until the "gathering" of the Tabaxi council and something about the original clan of Tabaxi.   That night, Dara and Eles kept watch and Manny and Merrli kept watch.

The party had dreams/nightmares from their lesser gods about loss, of family, home, etc. Eles specifically dreamed about her forest burning and the Raven Queen losing her powers. She spoke to Eles for the first time and told her she'd be sending her a Raven for aid. The raven's name is "guatir" or "guard". At least, that's the word that Eles got from him when she got him.   Guatir called Merrli "an abomination" in Eles's   Merrli was basically ouija'd into his pact with Lolth? "A stupid mistake"? But he did ask how/if gods could be killed so...And he has a dream that her powers were growing   Still don't understand what was up with the weird decapitated head island -something something Asmodeus and star tracking? No visitors on the island for a long time before the island was strangely attacked by orcs in a red boat Migvor Orcs. Met Huvir the gnome - a jerk, sketchy as hell -works with orcs - something about math/astronomy, Asmodeus and finding truth -"I didn't want them beheaded -something about being alone for the research -tied him up and contacted Pelk to retrieve him   Asmodeus -chaotic evil -greater god that still messes with the mortal plane -was in charge during the demon wars -   Malakar -Asmodeus's right hand -Killed in a forest? Hi name was invoked when we were basically exorcising Baeloknecht   Lolth -spider queen -goddess of the drow -also tricked into an allyship with Asmodeus -lost a pincer-stabbed by a paladin   The scaled mother: -Lizardfolk goddess -sister of Shugwai -accidentally killed Shugwai's demi-god son -fought against Asmodeus and Malakar -Killed by Asmodeus and Shugwai   Shugwai -Yuanti goddess - sister of the Scaled mother -sought revenge for her son by allying with Asmodeus -some Yanti believe the good part of her still exists -Also made the Grippli with her sister   This all seems like Demon Wars pt. 2 is brewing. Is someone now targeting the lesser gods? What does Asmodeus have to gain? I don't think we've heard his name yet specifically, just Malakar's Why sow discontent between the Yuanti and the lizardfolk? Has Shugwai gained more power somehow? Lots of talk about the afterlife recently found a book in Miklau temple named "death of the Afterlife" the lesser races don't have an afterlife. Merrli also asked if gods could be killed (this moment has obviously stuck around in my head.) Some dis/connection with lesser races and lesser gods. Technically the Raven Queen is a lesser god, but Eles is one of the Greater Races?   If all of the party's gods are lesser gods and they all sent us dreams/nightmares about their power and the dangers ahead, what does that mean for the world? Goblins and Demons are also walking around again- and there were infernal pools in one of those early towns