28th Dravago, 999 YK
- They try and treat Naze. Runmae and Valaari stay near him to restrain him if need be, whilst Bhaltair works with their crystals.
- Warren hides, to have a "surprise tool we can use later".
- Naze copes okay, remaining calm despite his terror, sweat, and pounding headache.
- At the end of the day (and after several very good rolls), Bhaltair's crystal is black and full of rancid vibes, and Naze collapses, exhausted.
- When Naze is asleep, Bhaltair puts the Healer's Gloves on him.
1st Nymm, 999 YK
- Bhaltair successfully identifies the sword they looted from the Hexgeists. It's a runed sword which bursts into fiendish flames when drawn from its scabbard, and it feels like the essence of a Brimorak.
- Bhaltair asks Valaari about it, if they can use something like this? Valaari confirms they will use any tool they can safely use. They're already corrupted just by being in the Demon Wastes.
- After some discussion, Bhaltair will hold onto the sword and when they get a chance, transfer the runes to the others weapons.
- Bhaltair also shows Valaari the religious symbol he looted from one of the Hexgeists, a shadowy idol resembling a hooded figure. Valaari identifies it as a symbol of Sul Khatesh, the Keeper of Secrets, and doesn't know what to do with it. They wouldn't have picked it up at all, personally.
- Warren says they should just leave it. Runmae is startled, where the hell did you come from!?
- Runmae suggests smashing it, but Valaari and Warren are worried that could be worse than just leaving it.
- Bhaltair leaves the idol on a nearby rock. Runmae goes to smash it but Warren stops her, reiterating that breaking it won't make it less corrupted.
- Runmae does it anyway. Valaari takes a step back.
- Runmae's hammer comes down on the idol, and smashes it into many smaller pieces, which are launched in all directions like unholy shrapnel. When the hammer comes up, there is a shadowy apparition of the idol which dissipates over several seconds.
- Runmae says it's better than leaving it whole. Warren disagrees, which prompts Runmae to call him a "dickhead"
- Runmae says if Warren is so worried, he should get a broom! Warren exclaims, "where am I supposed to get a broom!? It's the Demon Wastes, not the Demon Tidy Place!"
- Naze remembers the previous day as a nightmare, and isn't sure if it actually happened.
- They continue on their journey, with the environment getting more green and less hostile as they go.
- In the afternoon, they round a corner and see corpses strewn about, and one of them being devoured by a manticore with a face strangely reminiscent of King Boranel ir'Wynarn. Runmae is dumbfounded.
- Valaari is aware of manticores as monsters, though not often encountered in the Wastes. Runmae, as a Mror dwarf, has a much more favourable history with them.
- Valaari wants to move on, but Runmae is curious and wants to talk to it. Why do they look like King Boranel?
- Valaari allows it.
- Runmae goes over, alone, to speak to the manticore. It speaks well, in flawless Common. It has a message for the Vaanka Ghaash'kala. It introduces itself as Saar'osh.
- "Beware long shadows, and enemies from unexpected places."
- Runmae asks about the Mror Holds, and doesn't get any new information really.
- Runmae also notices druidic runes carved into the manticores scales.
- Valaari goes and asks Saar'osh some questions. They aren't sure whether to issue the challenge to them. They ask if they've been issued it before, and they say "I might". They ask if Saar'osh killed the Ghaash'kala that did so. They respond "I might".
- Okay. Valaari isn't sure they can take this one, so decides not to try their luck.
- Valaari asks about Arak Yor, but Saar'osh doesn't seem to know it. Valaari says that something there is calling to them, and Saar'osh suggests opening their mind. They then lament at how limited "your brains" are.
- Runmae goes and asks Bhaltair about the runes. Bhaltair takes a look, seeing druidic runes which seem to be inscribing spells into the manticore's flesh, both primal and occult magic.
- Is Saar'osh a druid?
- Bhaltair explains Wildsong is the language of the druids, the language left to them by Eberron.
- Warren is perplexed, "Eberron can speak?"
- Huh. A druidic manticore that looks like King Boranel.
- Bhaltair doesn't see the resemblance? But they've never actually seen Boranel outside of his face on coins.
- Warren asks what's so good about this Boranel guy? Why is his face on coins?
- "He's the ruler of Breland"
- "So this guy just gives people pieces of metal with his face on it and it's worth something?"
- "Yeah pretty much"
- They move on, thanking the manticore for its time.
- They rest in a nice cave for the evening, prepared to reach Vaanka Dar tomorrow.
- Before sleeping, Valaari tries to "open the mystery door in their mind" before going to sleep. Bhaltair sits next to them.
- Valaari dreams that they are once again in Arak Yor. They're at the entrance to the spire, and there's a kind of pulse coming from inside. As they approach, they get a growing feeling of apprehension. No one else is around.
- They open the door, and are blinded by a bright light. They hear a high pitched, droning whistle that they nevertheless understand as communication. They experience two streams of consciousness, saying "Stay Away!" and "Help me!" at the same time. They ask who they're talking to, and the entity responds "I need help".
- Valaari asks how to get there, and they experience their ear drums explode before they wake up, but they wake with a feeling in their chest like they're being pulled, into the ground.
- Bhaltair sees them start awake, and Valaari asks what they're doing. Bhaltair says they suspected that Valaari would do what the Manticore suggested, and is disappointed that they didn't tell anyone first. They would complain if any of the others did this, so why not say anything?
- Valaari says they didn't want to, and why should they?
- Bhaltair calls Naze over, and asks him to examine Valaari.
- Valaari does not say "Ahhh!" when Naze asks. They just glare at the others.
- Valaari is a bit paler than usual, but other than that and their refusal to say "Ahhh!", they seem to be in good health.
- Bhaltair asks Valaari to explain what the manticore said to them. Valaari said they just showed them how to open their mind.
- How?
- Valaari isn't sure, maybe it had some kind of mind magic?
- Runmae says that the manticores in the Mror Holds are psionic, which is like a mind magic.
- Bhaltair says "So you encountered a creature you were frightened to challenge, it asked you to open your mind and you did it, and then didn't tell anyone else?"
- Valaari clarifies they weren't frightened. They're pragmatic, and thinks they all would have died.
- Warren asks if there's any chance this conversation can wait til morning, and Bhaltair just tells him to go back to sleep.
- Bhaltair expresses that they don't like Valaari hiding things from the group.
- Valaari asks what they want to know, then?
- Bhaltair says that isn't the point, they don't want an interrogation, they want Valaari to be honest and open with them. To tell them if something strange happens.
- Valaari says they opened their mind to Sinnoch as well, was that a problem?
- It's not the same! Runmae does say she didn't like that either, though
- Valaari says that they didn't think it was necessary to inform the others of what they were doing.
- Bhaltair explains that they just saw Valaari go to bed and then wake with a start, clutching their head in pain, and how similar that was to Naze the previous day. Valaari says nobody is in danger, and Bhaltair responds that they can't possibly know that.
- Valaari says they've never seen Bhaltair act like this, why now? Bhaltair says because they hold Valaari to a higher standard, they set the standard for the party and they are breaking their own rules. If anyone else had done that, Valaari would be right on them over it.
- Valaari agrees, and asks if they want to lead the group? To take that responsibility?
- Bhaltair rails against this, saying that leadership isn't about being able to break trust.
- After some more back and forth, Valaari says fine, they hear the complaint. Bhaltair isn't sure they do, but Valaari says they don't have any other option but to move on and trust each other.
- Valaari describes the dream they had this time.
- Bhaltair stands up, says they're going to take a look around and see if they sense any portals. Valaari isn't sure the source of the pull is nearby, though.
- Valaari takes over Runmae's shift, saying "since I'm awake now." Warren comments that they're all awake now, and is ignored.
- Bhaltair can't sense any portals close by, but always senses the presence of portals in the Demon Wastes.
- Bhaltair suggests that Naze should try and detect magic the next time Valaari tries this.
2nd Nymm, 999 YK
- They should reach Vaanka Dar today
- They travel, and a little into the afternoon they notice shadows overhead. They're being circled by vrocks, wrath demons. There's nowhere to hide, really, but Bhaltair suggests casting an invisibility sphere, which should give them time to hide and confirm if the demons are trailing them.
- Valaari, remembering what they can about Vrocks, suggests covering their heads to try and muffle sound, as the vrocks have a powerful screech that can stun humanoids. They also have a limited ability to control the weather.
- Bhaltair casts the invisibility sphere, and they start moving. The vrocks continue to circle for a little bit and then spread out, yelling something to each other.
- Led by Runmae, they find some moist depressions to hide in, but still watch the sky. The vrocks split up to search for them, and they witness one of the demons get hit like a bullet by a very large bird. The pair begin falling, entangled together. The party decide to get involved, drawing their weapons and rushing to the scene.
- They arrive to see the vrock and the dragonhawk squaring off, with the rider knocking an arrow. They rush in and Runmae shoots at the vrock.
- The vrock goes for Runmae, and the dragonhawk uses the opportunity to leap onto its back and rip its wings out, the shock of which kills it.
- Two more vrocks descend, and begin their Dance of Ruin.
- Valaari throws their spear at one of them, and also remembers they are resistant to electricity.
- Warren activates his arachnid harness and uses it to climb the cliff to get to one of the dancing vrocks.
- The dragonhawk (and rider) fly up to engage one of the vrocks, mauling it while it dances.
- Naze starts blastin', and blasts a hole in one of the vrocks chest.
- Whilst the dragonhawk fights the last remaining vrock, Valaari throws their spear through its throat and takes it out.
- Next session, they'll meet the dragonhawk rider!