Session 10
Escaping the factory
The session opens up with the secretary running away from Ayer's room while screaming. The doors then magically slam shut, trapping the party inside. The party has one minute to investigate Ayer's office. They find the following items:- A picture of Ayer and his younger sister Zephyra, captioned with his real name and Zephyra's: Zephyra and Argent Liang
- A small Hundun in a cage under Ayer's desk
- Living Lapel Pin + Living Necktie
- Petrified Coal
- Shard Ointment
- Stonebound Scribe
- Dish of Cleansing
- Heartstain
- 500 gold in a safe
Stopping at Kasha's Village
As evening begins to settle in, the party arrives back at the Kobold Village. They see several kobolds slink out from the undergrowth and wave at them, showing interest especially in the Dragon's Pearl. The kobolds ask the party what they have been up to, and where they got the pearl. They are then led to see Kasha. The party returns to the clearing where the village had set up camp prior. The party notices the kobolds all look at them and the pearl with awe. Kasha and the leader of the other village the party had saved poke their heads out from the cave system entrance. Upon seeing the pearl, Kasha gasps. She asks the party where they got the pearl, saying that in their village, it's believed that their ancestor and progenitor god left behind a pearl when they died. Kasha asks the party to stay for the night, so that the village may look at the pearl. She also personally asks if her and Vas may spend the night watching the pearl, believing that the pearl may impart wisdom upon them. The village prepares a feast to the best of its ability that night. Most of the food is insects, small mammals, and fish. Some foraged fruits and nuts are provided for the party specifically. Vas' invites some of her village over to join in. The listens in on the kobolds as they sing ancient songs retelling the story of their ancestor: How they bravely fought against invaders in the War of the Corrupted Threads, in the end losing their life, but leaving behind a lustrous pearl that would impart wisdom and great power to those it considered worthy. After the party winds down, most of the kobolds go into the caves to sleep, leaving the guards, Kasha and Vas by the pearl, and the party.Mei confronting Amanti about Nadyn
That night, as the party settles down to sleep. Amanti notices brown eyes peering at him from the darkness: It is Mei, who wants to talk to him. Mei says "what Nadyn did at Ayer's factory: What the hell was that about!?" She remarks how unprofessional and unhinged it was, and that Nadyn is a reckless and dangerous individual to have around, pointing out his ex-terrorist past. She also asks Amanti if he really thinks its safe to be around Nadyn. Before the conversation ends, she warns him that if the party doesn't do something about Nadyn, they'll surely face dire consequences in the future.Flashback to Nadyn's childhood
When Amanti goes to sleep, he has a dream. It's of a moment from when his sons were still children. He came home from an outing to find Nadyn and his wife Louisa in the kitchen. There is a critically injured rabbit on the table. Nadyn is sobbing, asking his mother if there's anything he can do to fix it. Louisa frowns, before examining the rabbit once more, and then confirming there isn't anything she can do. Both of the rabbit's back legs look horrifically torn off. As Nadyn starts sobbing, Louisa bends down and gently explains to him that sometimes, the best thing someone can do for others is to end their suffering. She asks Amanti to come over and help hold the rabbit in place. The dream ends with Nadyn begging Louisa not to, as she grabs a large rock and slams it down on the rabbit's skull.Continuing Down the River
The next day, Kasha and Vas thank the party for letting them be in the pearl's presence, and wishes them luck on their journey, saying that they're always welcome at their villages. As the party continues down the river, they notice the river has a special ethereal glow to it, similar to glowing algae at night. They also notice wisps of energy floating upward from the river.The party continued down the river, now wholly familiar with the routine of relaxing in the boat as the two strongest members row. At the mild pace the party was traversing at, there was ample time for the party to enjoy the scenery once again. Trees and bushes bursting with flowers were plenty along the riverbank, giving away to large, verdant hills in the distance. Even when moments of banter and small talk had long ceased, the sound of birdsong swelled in the air. It seemed the River of Life, as the name would imply, was alive. The minutes slipped by, gradually turning into hours. The day is mild, clouds sliding in and out of the party's view of heaven. At some point, a large gathering of clouds soon arrives. To the party, the world becomes dimmer, first from the shadow of overcast, and then from the sounds of the forest becoming more quiet, and the flora slightly losing their color. The liveliness of the river, it had seemed, had taken on a different tone. The party can't help but feel something tugging at their senses--as if their body is expecting something their minds are not yet aware of.They also see feel a sense of unease, as they can't help but feel they are being watched by a special presence. When they turn their heads, it always feels like something just barely escapes their vision.
Witnessing the blue crane transform into black
In the distance, the party witnesses a creature appear out of the mist and slowly strut to the center of the river. As they row closer, they discover it is in fact a large, majestic, dark blue crane, with seemingly iridescent feathers. The crane stares at them as the boat gets closer and closer, until around 90 ft away, they notice that it starts shimmering. Gradually, the blue iridescent feathers peel away from the crane, revealing dark black feathers underneath. As the boat enters the clouds of feathers, they all start disappearing into the air, leaving one behind in the boat. The crane, now midnight black, flies off into the sky and mist, scattering flower petals around the partyThe air begins to grow denser, a fog encroaching upon the water's surface. The waves dial down in intensity, until the water remains without so much as a ripple, like one massive mirror. Then, a patches of glowing blue appear in the water. They start expanding in size like drops of watercolor on paper, and the river becomes alight with a bright, turquoise. The light reflects and scatters amongst the fog, and soon everything is illuminated in a ghostly turquoise. In the distance, in the midst of the fog, a creature stands still. It stands atop two thing leggs, the long neck and beak identifying it as some kind of bird. When the boat gets closer, the creature's appearance becomes more solid. It is a large crane, standing in the middle of the river. But its feathers are no normal color--Instead of the familiar white and black of red-crowned crane, its body is a striking, deep, navy blue. Even while the boat continues to approach, the crane appears calm, staring at the party without so much as a ruffle of its feathers. Then, it shakes itself. Several feathers fly into the air. At this movement, a patch of black appears on the end of its body, where the previous feathers were attached. Slowly, the color spreads across the crane's body, black feathers replacing where blue once was. After many seconds, the entire back half of the crane is black. Then, the blackness reaches further, up to its chest, then its neck, its head, until finally, its metamorphosis is complete. The crane, seemingly now satisfied, gives itself one final shake, spreads its wings, and then takes flight, disappearing into the mist. Only a scattering of dark blue feathers remains where it once stood. The boat naturally drifts foward, into the cloud of feathers, becoming close enough that the party can reach out and touch them.
Encountering Michael and Donovan
The party spots three familiar figures on a piece of land that juts out particularly far into the river: A dark-skinned man with slicked-black hair in a three-piece suit, a pale, teenaged woman with floofy black hair, small green horns, and a feathered capelet, and a man with dark, messy hair and a long green coat. Donovan states that he is finishing up writing notes regarding the plants around the river, and is notably tight-lipped to the party. He also awkwardly locks eyes with Amanti. When the Hundun pops out of the boat, Michael and Donovan immediately freaking out. Both start digging into their pockets and bags, seemingly taking out defensive items, with Michael specifically pushing Anahe back. Michael asks the party if they know exactly what "that creature is." He explains it is a Hundun: A creature that is representative of the primordial cosmos that existed before the universe. As the Hundun, seemingly oblivious to the scene it has caused, starts dancing, he says that there are legends of the Hundun's dance foretelling moments of upheaval. Upon being told it belonged to Ayer, Michael seems unsurprised, stating that "Tigers probably weren't enough for him." Once the Hundun finishes its dance, an item from Magic Item Table B appears where it stood. If the party doesn't implore Michael to the change in surroundings themselves, Michael thanks them for defeating Ayer, saying that it'll help bring balance back to the interconnected relationship of humans and spirits. He asks if the party has noticed any uptick in hostile monsters while traveling the river due to this imbalance.- Michael tells the party the importance of the interconnected tapestry: How no one truly exists in isolation, and everything from the ground they walk on to the air they breathe makes up who they are. Being good to others, being good to your environment, is being good to yourself.
- Spirit energy flows constantly and cyclically throughout the world, a trait of the world having been woven into place. To fully tap into the underlying magic of the universe, is to manipulate it as the Weaver did when creating the world. Michael asks the spellcasters how exactly they cast their magic.
- He goes on to explain that most magic practitioners adhere to the same basic practice: Like a weaver attaches their thread to the needle, a caster must channel the energy of the universe, "attach" it to a "needle", and send it through the Weave. Each caster's spell, as a result of this "attachment," usually contains an essence of the caster itself. Michael continues, saying that attachment methods vary: The most powerful mages can control magic through sheer will, usually being High Elves, Gods, and Immortals, sending the magic by imposing their very presence through the Weave. Others get by through traditional spell focuses. Michael then examines to Fanna's shoes, easily casting magic through it.
- The distinction between all humanoids and spirits is that humanoids are naturally born with high amounts of spiritual energy, and can progress their skills at a much faster rate than spirits. Spirits, in turn, easily live longer lifetimes compared to humans, and have an easier time accessing the energy that permeates throughout the universe. Many spirits try to attain "humanity," and cultivate their spiritual prowess to the point that they acquire a human form, thus having both the long life of a spirit and the prowess of a humanoid.
- Gods and Immortals are ascendant, acquiring the traits of both spirits and humans. Many immortals were long-lived humans or spirits, eventually acquiring so much power and mastery over the Weave that they do not age. High Elves are a specific kind of immortal.
- Monsters arise when enough of an imbalance occurs in the environment. It is for this reason that protecting others cycles back to protecting yourself - You are maintaining the harmony of the community.
Plot points/Scenes
- Escaping the factory
- Stopping at Kasha's village
- Mei confronting Amanti about Nadyn
- Flashback to Nadyn's childhood
- Continuing down the river
- Witnessing the blue crane transform into black
- Encountering Michael and Donovan
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