Session 135: When Last We Met 8/24/25

When last we met, the party had defeated a vampire patriarch in Cornelius. Now they stood at a quandary, Do they leave him to his fate? Or finish him off once and for all. The party decides on the former option and leave him tied up in his coffin with a magical message F-U message left by Vandread on his coffin lid.

From there the party give a warm farewell to Stephen who admits he likely won't see them ever again as only bad people will be in his new home and obviously, the members of the party are good people. They exchange icy hugs and Stephen lies down in his coffin, getting sealed inside a crate and prepared for transport. The party set out with the caravan of carts moving northward toward the place known as the Juice Box.

Along the way they are stopped by a rough looking group who introduce themselves as The Sapphire Eyes - a gang of monster hunters who were tracking Vampire activity in Mount Cashell and question if the party is smuggling vampires. Many coded threatening euphemisms are exchanged and finally the Sapphire Eyes take their leave after the party reveal the location of Cornelius, saying they have him trapped in his house and can be easily dispatched. The Sapphire Eyes immediately ride for the Capital.

From there the party complete the 7 day journey and reach the Juice Box. They are greeted by a lone warden named Mauricio. He brings them inside while the Derleth's servants begin unloading the crates filled with their Master. The party are brought down three levels underground as a panopticon style prison lays with heavy stone and reinforced bars. Mauricio let's them know he is fully aware of the place's true intention and says he will keep it a secret as long as they do as well.

Vandread reiterates the need for the disposal of bodies drained by the vampires and that they are not to be left to turn and end up with an army of Vampires overrunning the place. Mauricio reassures them that they will take the utmost care of the place and keep everyone inside safe (some more than others). The party then take their leave of the place and the non descript guardhouse that serves as the entrance to the subterranean prison stands for the rest of time. It's unmarked walls fueled speculations and ghost stories. But still it stood. News reaches the party that Cornelius met his end at the hands of the Sapphire Eyes as well, Not before thinning out their numbers as well.

From there the party returned to their home and decided the next stop would be to check in on Volgot - namely the Mining operations and revenue accrued by their stake in it. While they journey abroad, Celeste takes the time to head to the Wildrim Islands to study more with the rune singers and finally master her Laulu Stone magic. Vandread, Mistral and Romaia sail to Volgot where they collect a king's ransom in gold and are pleased to learn that the artificers sent by the Abraxios academy as well as those living in volgot already have devised an army of automaton constructs as well as mining machinery to double productivity.

The party gladly receive their bounty and leave yet another place better than they found it. From there, Mistral admits his desire to finally learn more about his mother's death and likely confront the assassin responsible. He inquires with older Mastokov relatives who confirm that Oskar had hired a member of the Ferrymen to do the deed, But they don't have any further information.

Mistral however has a coin that is said to summon a representative of their organization. Mistral plans to use this meeting to find out what he can.

That's where we'll pick up next time!