Session 85: When Last We Met 6/30/24

When Last we met, The party had just been escorted off the Islet of the Black Pyramid so that the site can be secured and cleaned up by the city guards. The party spoke with the foreman briefly and learned that The Muharib are viewed as kind of folk heroes to the people of Olorun. Their attack on the pyramid, while in keeping with their creed, was still violent and abhorrent.    The party then retires to the Bee and Priest Inn to take their long rest and dress any wounds they sustained in the battle. The party forms a strategy to get close to the king and comes up with a solid plan before rest takes them.    The following morning, They stalk their way to the front of the Palace of the King. They find guards standing watch but not seeming to pay them any mind. Probably regarding them as tourists gawking at the palace. Celeste sets her Pseudodragon Moonwing to run surveillance for the party while Mistral infiltrates the palace in his gaseous form. He passes by the guards unnoticed and makes his way to the throne room where he sees The fabled King, resplendent in his yellow robes and donning a strange mask that covers his face. To Mistral's chagrin, The king seems to see him as well. As he tries to make his exit, another figure approaches him and casts a suggestion spell, instructing him to bring the rest of his party into the palace. He obliges and brings them forth. They are greeted by this figure, calling himself Nyarlathotep. He greets the party with high regard and informs the party of his knowledge of their great deeds and exploits. He continues to say what an honor it is to have the heroes of Maplevale in the City.   A conversation ensues where the party questions Nyarlathotep on the intentions of he and his king, to which he replies they are benevolent. He tells the party that the Star of Carcosa is actually some sort of Comet hurtling toward their world and The kings endeavors are to find a way to stop assured destruction. This conflicts with what the party heard from Hakim the previous day. Not knowing what to believe, the party accepts an invitation from the king to attend a play taking place that evening at  the Pavillion of Atis. They take their leave and head to a potion shop to try and find remedies that could help them that evening as they expect there to be trouble. The party make their purchases and kill time at the Inn until evening comes. They apprehensively head to the Pavillion and are seated in the round amphitheater.    The play opens with a herald, who mentions the party by name and relishes them as the guests of honor for the King Himself. The play then begins in earnest and its content and material defy any sort of sane description. Whatever the opposite of a "feast for the senses" is, this play is that. Throughout the party feel overwhelmed with dread, nausea, and a palpable unease as the play itself ends with the actors seeming to end their own lives there on the stage to the horror of the onlookers. Something seems to snap in the brains of the party as they witness this horrific act and feel themselves plunged in darkness.    And that's where we'll pick up next time!