Session 014: In Which Eldritch Horrors Haunt a Hamlet

Wherein Exposition Occurs

  A Meeting of the Minds occurred at The Cage Tavern & Inn, where the heroes rested up and took stock of all that is happening in world events. Reaching level 5 mark play as Tier 2 and makes the party Heroes of the Realm. Their actions are now a matter of consequence to the surrounding areas, though it remains to be seen how the heroes will wield their new position in the world (at present time, tax evasion seems high on the list).   News from Zobeck returns a city confused, as the Shadow Fey have called the Winter Court to session. Whatever that means, it's all very confusing. Dual power structures exist side-by-side in the streets as the Shadow Fey establish their own police force and city council. Though there is no unrest, the populace and established government aren't sure how to proceed. Vedran, Enlightened Leader, Restorer of the Light of Redtower, Negotiator Par Excellence, Seer of Light, Righter of Wrongs, and Holy Beyond Questioning, has deemed that the only libations followers of Khors shall drink are those organically made by Ushulx and chastises the merenaries for drinking on the weekend and getting in trouble with both police forces over their "disorderly" conduct. Vailima abides and provides drinks, encouraging such behavior.   Daesanderena, a magical elf from the Summer Lands needs a branch of the Bramble Crown, A magic item stolen from an extradimensional space of a family of rank in the Summer Lands. By Magical Law, the elf is unable to touch it, so she needs help getting just a branch of it back since such an infinitesimal fraction of the crown would not violate such rules. The Weft of Shadows has stolen other such items   Questioning the Fearsome Five, the heroes discover the following about the swampy area they are about to enter:

• These entities have some soft of Mind Control abilities but can only be used once per day.
• Some sort of Infectious Disease can be contracted from them, causing the skin to itch and dry out when not submerged in water.
• It is a Watery World, where the water can shift and flow.

  The heroes descend into the swamp and see all manner of strange beast. Their minds begin to unravel and they resort to self-medication via the halfling's leaf. Silence overcomes the swamp and those with tinnitus are put into an even worse state! The tree canopy becomes nearly a solid mass of organic matter, only a few rays shine through and reveal a strange mass of creatures huddling together. Snakes, crocodiles, wolves, birds, form this unnatural mass and provide new organic matter for the rebirth of the Broodmother. Can the heroes weaken this mass before the Broodmother is fully reborn?  

Tinkering isn't taxable income!

— Konrad, Certified Public Accountant