Chronicles of the Realm Walkers: Session 59

With the battle seemingly over, Rhy began to heal the remaining unconscious guests, one of whom tried to get semi intimate but was swiftly stopped. Ranrus healed the last guest he could see. Theren moved closer to the illusory figure before changing direction to head to Strahd’s study. Lee went to check on Sarasoul who was fine. Rhy reached out to heal Ysir and a pitiful amount of magic flowed into his wounds.   As Theren stepped out of the ballroom Lord Varse stepped toward the illusion. The illusory figure, sitting in her throne pointed her jagged dagger at Lord Varse and said “I want my Midnight Rose back.”   Lord Varse responded, “Oh Aunty its so nice to see you.” The woman stared back with the most fowl look on her face.   The two continued back and forth, the woman being ominous and threatening, and Varse being aloof and sarcastic. During this conversation Rhy tried to pull Ranrus and Ysir out of the sight of the two. Most of the other guest had also left the ballroom to avoid the figures gaze.   Varse invited any other guest to come to speak to "his Aunty".   Lee piped up and asked the woman for her name and before she could answer, Lord Varse spoke for her, "Oh this is aunty Night Queen.”   The Night Queen followed up with “You can call me, The Night Queen”. She also asked Lee what else he, a mortal, wanted. Lee made clear all he wanted was a name, seeming satisfied that he’d gotten one, only for the Night Queen to follow with “You asked for a name and I gave you a title.”   With one more threat to Lord Varse the fog behind her enveloped the illusory Night queen and she disappeared.   Meanwhile, Theren moved through the library and to the study find the door locked. Theren, ill equipped to pick the lock, used blink to get to the other side. Strahd was alone in the room standing still and staring forward. He did not react to Theren's appearance or their touch. Theren unlocked the door form the inside and cast detect magic to see what might be affecting Strahd, of which they saw none. Theren called for Ranrus and Rhy to come help and after some repeated yells they did arrive, followed by Lord Varse. Ranrus looked Bill Strahd over for any obvious ailment. All Ranrus was able to determine was he appeared catatonic.   Rhy, inspecting from an arcane perspective, concluded this behaviour could be indicative of a creature who was charmed and given some sort of blanket order. Ranrus began to work on dispelling or removing the effect. Dispel and lesser restoration had no affect. Luckily greater restoration took affect and Bill finally reacted to Theren's push.   Bill mumbled a bit “What…where did they go…”. Lord Varse pushed through took Strahd's face in his hands and put Strahd’s focus on him. Varse let him know he had been charmed by Vampires. Rhy took this time to leave and head back to the ballroom   Strahd tried to remember what had happened but could only remember the two dancers were investors from Iter. Rhy made her way out of the room. Strahd started to look around and realized they were all in rough shape compared to when he last saw them. He asked what had happened. Theren explain the event after they and Varse had started playing the organ together. When they got to the part where Theren mentioned bills guests dying, he cut them off and quickly confirmed that Theren had said some of his guest were dead, before he rush out of the study to the ballroom.   In the ballroom Rhy, Felicity, and Angus were helping tend the wounded. Anthony and Allison were helping those who were out in the hall. Stonia and Illia Ellia had returned, Stoina just sitting alone on a large couch. Illia seeing Strahd enter ina panic, ran over to him and immediately started talking. Soon after Felicity also noticed Strahd and went to speak with him.   Back in the study Varse was alone with Theren. Varse pointed out that guest dying at a party was normal. Theren was simply confused as to why the Vampires didn’t kill Strahd. Varse tried explain his Aunty didn’t kill unnecessarily, she was just mad at him for taking a trinket without asking. Theren asked if he thought the cards she had were real, which Varse confirmed they were, since that’s where he got the one he had already given to Theren. Theren wondered what Bill was worried about which Varse fairly pointed out it was probably all the dead bodies, to which Theren wondered if it was one body in particular. This clearly intrigued Varse and the two rushed to see what was going on in the ballroom.   Illia was guiding Strahd through the aftermath and his responsibilities. Strahd was not at fault or to blame and that clerics should be called to handle last rights and similar. Lastly Lord Varse should be asked to leave as soon as possible.   Rhy apologized for telling Ysir not to bring his armor. He looked at her and plainly said, "I was right, you were wrong, and I’m going to take pride in that." Rhy immediately stopped talking to him and walked away, Ysir was petty in this moment and didn’t try to engage further. The bodies had been brought together and Angus was giving each body a detailed once over. Strahd dismissed all the remaining staff assuring them they would paid in full and should go be with their families. He also promised to pay any physical or mental health cost and would assist in obtaining those as needed.   Varse waited for a pause before pointing out the two Vampires couldn’t be two far, no more than two hours away at most. The one that had become mist needed to reach a resting place within two hours or they would perish. Theren thought the moonlight would prove a problem considering what happened with Almir but Varse seemed confused by this. Varse quickly demonstrated that the moonlight didn’t affect him.   Lord Varse was intrigued when he realized they must of met a fledgling Vampire for them to be affected by Snowbrights moonlight because for there to be a fledgling Vampire on this plane it would be a very short list of people who could of turned them, implying all of his Aunties vampires were on another plane.   Theren asked if all Vampires are related on Ithica, to which Varse replied, "if you listen to Aunty we are but i don't buy it." Varse also believed the armor construct was likely from his Aunties and made specifically to capture him.   Meanwhile Rhy and others had been prestidigitating viscera and damage away.   Theren asked Varse what his plans were and he made clear he had planned a multi-day trip. Theren asked if the Night Queen could reach him in Dark Mound, to which he explained, it would be bad for her to come after him in his city. He was surprised she’d reacted so quickly to him leaving though. He only left Dark Mound a few hours earlier, he noted it was almost like someone had told her he was coming.   Theren asked what the Night Rose she wanted back did and Lord Varse adjusted his karat and the somewhat flower shaped jet crystal pinned to it. He explained the rose did quite a few things, but he wouldn’t be getting into the details, but that it was very fun that he had it it and she didn’t. Varse could not suggest in anymore detail where the escaped Vampires might be behiding. Strahd was also of no help, aside from remembering the two dancer being representative of a college or university in Iter. Strahd went looking for a guest list returning with a clipboard where on the third page the bottom section had been ripped off.   Ranrus investigated the remains of the construct. It was similar to, but still very different then animated armor. Ranrus wondered if it might be Visser's work, but found no similarities. There was strange black, gem like material inside the armor's helmet. Ranrus collected some and investigated it closely. In the gem like stone, he saw a cloudy and starry night sky. Rhy took a look as well and determined this was not a trapped sky, but more like a window or a natural state to this material. Investigating the constellation they look familiar but somehow not quite right.   Ranrus attempted to put a scry sensor on the other side of this window. While he failed to succeed this time, he got enough feedback from his attempt to believe this was a window and that it would be possible to place a sensor on the other side with enough effort. Theren decided to go over towards the Wilson's to get Allison's thoughts. Alisson came back to look at the piece and quickly determined what she was looking at, was specifically backwards or mirrored constellations. She pointed out one she could easily identify that she called teddy bear. Rhy realized that was a reflection of the material plane meaning this was most likely the Shadow Fel.   Theren excitedly mentioned that the Realm Walkers hadn't been to the Shadowfel yet, which Lord Varse partially overheard, asking where it was they hadn't gone. This eventually led to Lord Varse explaining that the Shadowfel was where the the Night Queen lived, and also where she was stuck. Theren asked if it was because she didn’t have the rose. While Varse was non direct, all the Realm Walkers saw through his avoidance, to the truth.   Lee assuming Varse took the rose to punish the Night Queen, inquired into what is she did to deserve it. Varse explained the Night Queen claimed to be the lineage of all vampires and that she was the mother, queen, and origin of all Vampires on Ithica, which Varse believed he'd gathered enough evidence to “call that absolute bulshit”.   Rhy asked if varse wold need protection while in Snowbright, he did not request there assistance, but if they wanted to volunteer he wouldn't object. He didn’t believe he'd have issues defending himself as long as they're weren’t anymore antimagic fields. Ranrus was was concerned about collateral damage. Varse didn’t believe his Aunty would of sent “that many “ of the cage constructs.   As the Realm Walkers tried to get their bearings on what to do next, they remember they're goal had been to find and kill Eragis whom Theren suggested would be very interesting if they arrived now. Rhy immediately on guard, looked around as there was an echoing knock and someone called out, “Sorry we’re late, is everything alright.”   Theren and Rhy went to the front door. Two individuals looked a bit confused and Rhy began a bit of an interrogation after Theren gave them a brief explanation of the evening events. The woman, a golden haired High Elf dressed in white with a sapphire eyepatch over one eye, introduced them as Elyana and Gil. Gil was her brother, dressed in red and black with short spiky gold and red hair. While Elyana looked intrigued, Gil looked bored and put out. Rhy explained she was trying to confirm they were not the original guest who may have been impersonated by the would be assassins. Upon hearing about the blood and violence Gil looked much more interested in coming in.   Elyana, getting a look at everything, looked excited running to strahd asking "what happened, and can I write about it?”   Strahd explained what happened, noting a third member he had expected not being with them. Elyana pulled out a notebook from her jacket and started writing down notes, while Gil started to look bored again and went to sit on a couch. After finishing explaining Strahd said “I need a break" and proceeded up stairs. Elyana quickly recognized Varse, noting it was nice to meet him before she focused on the Realm Walkers. asking who all they were. The Realm Walkers quickly introducing themselves. She began interviewing them on the events, speaking of the whole thing from a very narrative perspective. Rhy, confused when Elyana asked if she could use their names in print, asked who she was. Elyana realizing they’re was know one present for her to be compared to, fully introduced herself as Elyana Trendisimo. The name was one Rhy and Lee both recognized, having heard it fairly recently, and learning nearly a year ago that it was the real name vs the pen name of the author of Hero’s Rise. Rhy immediately asked if Elyana had asked Izret for his permission.   While Elyana was very focused on the present story to be written from the evening events, Rhy was more interested in digging up Elyana's sources for her other work base on Izret and his party.   Elyana wouldn’t reveal all her sources but had spoken with Ohpa a few times, and had done other research. She spoke on the relationship between Izret and Tia Safur and the general belief by some fans that he fetishized disabilities or physical abnormalities.   Rhy flexed her own knowledge by interjecting with surprise that Elyana didn’t know that Izret was married. While Rhy believed Elyana was full of shit, Lee watched carefully, and Elyana reaction to Rhy's claim was not one of surprise at the fact, but one of surprise that someone else knew the fact. The moment was brief.   Elyana quickly recovered and carried on her claims that Izret was a playboy but Lee wasn’t letting it go and pushed on what he’d seen stating that Elyana already knew Izret was married, and more specifically how she knew. Elyana, still denying her knowledge spun around a few erratic statements, until she redirected her attention to her brother “Gil, do you find them interesting at all?” He replied “Sort of.”   Elyana turned back to them and asked for their names again.   Meanwhile, Theren had wandered off, disinterested in Elyana and had started playing host. Clerics had arrived and were starting to manage the bodies, which Angus had separated, Two bodys were set off by themselves and the rest were left together in neat rows. Theren asked him why he had separated two. He had a theory about Risen, and he thought if they waited long enough those two would comeback. He didn’t want to give the details on his theory until he published it. He clinically stared at the two bodies. In a brief discussion it came out that Cry had supernatural sense to always know where Angus was. He had theories but was unable to test them since most people seemed to want to bury or cremate their family rather quickly after death.   Elyana, still refusing to acknowledge Izret being married as a fact or something she knew, wondered why the twins could of come to their conclusions. They mentioned they were members of the Guild. Elyana broke her act and finally agreed, that yes, she knew Izret was married and that is was very boring and not good literature. Lee didn’t believe her and again watched for any sign of a lie, but found she truly believed Izret X Tia was more interesting. She acknowledge a great deal of complications if she wrote about the marriage, it being sad which wasn’t her genre, having to introduce a new character and people she hadn’t even acknowledged exist. and she wouldn’t be able to sell her books in at least 3 different regions.   After confirming the twins had read her work, she reminded them that she had not acknowledged the Moonfolk despite Izret's clear historical interaction, because to do so would lead to an interplanar narrative, stopping her from selling the books in Bennara.   Elyana started to talk about her increased sales in Krata since The Revolution and was considering doing a time skip and writing about Izret returning to aid in the revolution and freeing his homeland. Based on the twins reactions she decided might not be a great story line. But Rhy used Elyana discussing story ideas to pivot into discussing her writing about taking down Oddi (described as the Necromancer King). This fell flat and Rhy pivoted back to Izret's wife and the twins proceeded to weave some truth into their pitch's. Elyana became very suspicious. She asked the two to step into the library with her. And as soon as the door closed behind them she asked,”How did you know the Queen was murdered?”   Rhy responded with the same question. Elyana expressed that she quite liked the twins, which was strange for her on first meeting individuals. She asked if they knew because they found “a journal” too, which the twins implied they had, a lie Elyana saw through. She reached into her pack pulling out a tattered leather bound journal, which she place on a small table resting her hand on top of it. “This is how I know what I know, how do you know what you know?”   The twins said they got it from a very reliable source. Elyana went on "I know Ohpa didn’t tell you, and I know Oka didn’t tell you… did you find Tia’s dead body?”   Elyana giving up on getting their source, asked what it is they wanted by letting her know they knew.   The twins implied they wanted her to write about the murder and in part implied they knew the identity of the murderer. Rhy asked if Elyana knew, to which she explained it was an intentionally left out detail in the journal, but she had theories. “For Branches to leave it out it would have to be some political discourse or larger issues.” Her conclusion was that Chalaina was killed by the The Church of Change. Something she wouldn't write since it would make her an enemy of the Church. Rhy implied it would just be fiction.   Elyana responded that what she was implying was, Elyana write an animata novella implicating the currently existing church in the murder of their actual Queen, when all she had to protect herself was a Goliath from Great Bird.   As Lee continued to try to convince her, Elyana realized a serious problem in the discussion; what could they possibly have to gain from this, especially considering the murder happened over 100 years ago.   The twins continued their push, implying truth and justice was their reward. She was mildly convinced, noting her next publication was in about 6 months she could change the pieces direction. But she still wanted to know what they gained from this. Rhy said it was just because they were members of the guild and believed in the truth around Izret. Lee implied it was more to see some sort of religious revolution.   Hearing about the Lee living in the great bird, Elyana asked if he knew the Toret family, letting him know her body guard was Penson Toretson.   Back in ballroom Gil tapped on Ranrus’s shoulder and openly looked him up and down before saying, “Huh, so there are two of you. What are the chances?” Ranrus replied, "two of what?" Gil answered, “Well three of us I guess, nice to meet you." Gil proceeded to make some awkward small talk. Before saying “your really shining.” Ranrus returned to the "three of us" comment and asked if he meant Chosen. Gil attempted to bluff asking, "What's a chosen?", but Ranrus saw through this. Ranrus didn’t show his cards and simply said, "if you don’t know, I probably shouldn’t tell you." Gil said ok and moved on, leaving the parting words that Ranrus was slightly more interesting then the walls. Gil moved around the room having similar short interactions with the remaining guests, seemingly finding nothing to catch his interest.   Eventually, Gil introduced himself to Theren and started a similar small talk. After Theren mentioned Eragis, Gil said they had a very long list of people they needed to kill. Theren was mostly unphased by him knowing anything about that outside that Theren thought their list was relatively small at the moment. Gil, listening to Theren list off who they needed to kill, responded “Oh so your not trying to kill me, ok then we don’t need to talk, got it.” and he started to walk away.   Theren responded confused, “Should I?” and Gil responded, "I don’t know, you seemed really into it when you died.” Theren was confused. Gil continued to say it was good and that “It seems like enough people have died here today, [he] had no need to add [Theren] to the pile.”   Theren, trying to figure, out the puzzle in front of them asked if Gil was Vecna. Theren listed a bunch of possibilities, clearly none of which were correct. Gil followed with, “It's ok, clearly wasn’t a big deal I’ll let her know to forget about it. She said there was this person who wanted to kill me, and I was like sure if I run into them…”   Theren maybe figure it out and excitedly asked “do you want to fight?”   Gil paused,”Do you want to die?” And Theren responded “Eh, it happens." Gil looked shocked before a faint smile came over his face, “Oh, this makes so much more sense now.”   Gil snapped his fingers. Instantly there were glowing stars floating around his head and floating in the air on either side of Theren were two glowing red marbles, that exploded.   Theren used their ring to gain resistance to fire. But Gil cast counterspell, blocking the effect. The fiery explosions wrapped theren’s body in flames and as the flames cleared, Theren was on the ground clinging to life.   Date: Early hours of the 5th of Kirit, 1437 DC