Session 12: The Veiled Voice

Upon the wind-swept summit of the Observatory, the Ratcatchers faced down the nightmare made flesh: a Denizen of Leng, a twisted creature from the Realm of Nightmares, its very presence seeping dread into the bones of all who looked upon it. Sakuya, drawing upon her knowledge of occult lore, recognized the being for what it was—a slaver of minds and flesh, one who ensnares the dreams of mortals and turns them into loyal thralls. The battle that followed was grueling, the Denizen wielding both terrifying psychic powers and formidable physical strength. Yet, through spell, steel, and stubborn will, the Ratcatchers emerged victorious, striking down the creature. As its unnatural form collapsed into dust, the skies above Lexica began to clear, the oppressive aura that had blanketed the city slowly lifting.   Barely able to stand, the Ratcatchers began to tend to their wounds amid the Observatory's shattered stones. But before they could catch their breath, a slow clapping echoed through the chamber. They turned to see a man with a pale, neutral expression standing between a pair of dead trees. He applauded them, praising their strength and determination. In a voice both calm and chilling, he congratulated them for proving the success of what he described as a “fruitful experiment.” Then, with a simple gesture, he raised his hand, and every red coin in the Ratcatchers’ possession flew to him, spinning through the air before vanishing into his grasp.   The man spoke with eerie clarity, claiming to hail “from beyond the realm”, and ominously added that he looked forward to “taking this world for his own.” With no further explanation, he vanished—as suddenly and effortlessly as he had arrived—leaving the Ratcatchers in stunned silence.   With heavy minds and heavier hearts, the Ratcatchers fled the mountaintop, descending from Tier 4 and making their way back to Tier 2, eventually finding shelter at the Moon-Fork Inn. There, amid flickering lantern light and sleepless nights, they reflected on what they had witnessed. Over the course of the next couple weeks, the weight of recent events began to fracture the group. Some Ratcatchers, shaken by what they had seen, chose to part ways, seeking quieter lives or new paths. Others, however, remained steadfast—committed to seeing the mystery through to the end, no matter how deep the darkness went. The journey was far from over… but fewer would walk it.