Ancine 25th, 951
- Selathwin Muleyr elaborated on the Peas' goal: to retrieve the resonance of the ley line intersection, and return within 10 days
- Selathwin cut through the mists facing towards the center of the Unknown, revealing that the Nightseeker had established a rising pillar of shadows at the center of the ley line hub.
- As time was of the essence, the group chose to risk teleportation out of the Isles of Wrath using the Hag's Finger
- To increase their chances of success, the group began to head out towards the circle of safety they spent the previous night at as the chaotic magic was weak there
- The other groups headed out alongside them as Selathwin remained in the Temple of the Earth to study the ley patterns
- After a bit of travel through the Pillars of Iron, the group was suddenly held by the Nightseeker yet again for what felt like seconds, with hours passing in real time
- The other adventurers headed on without them, but Kalkot Effintuff and Leidren Mefkat remained behind, confident that they would reappear, and a bit bloodied from some attacking slagbeasts
- The party forged on through the Pillars, dodging the molten iron as they approached more ruins
- The party came upon a large group of slagbeasts feasting on the pillars, and decided to get the jump of them with a sneak attack
- As the beefier members of the group divided and conquered the beasts, Journey hung back to protect Leidren
- Phaelnah managed to keep the reckless Kalkot alive as he attempted to smash the beasts with the wrong side of his hatchet
- Tyerjon blazed a trail by himself, blindly running out into the darkness to attack
- Leadbelly and Seamus kept close, aiding each other as they could
- Wander struck methodically and backed off, targeting weak points
- A large group of beasts began to approach from the rear, cornering Leidren and Journey, but Journey managed to protect Leidren by tanking the attacks with a few casts of Shield and a powerful eruption from her Iridescent Shatterflame
- As the group mopped up the stragglers, they continued on before more beasts emerged
- The party arrived at the circle, where the Lightning Man and the Wizard were waiting for Leidren and Kalkot, promptly teleporting to Alghir Nokk
- Father Falis, the Rain Knight, the Druid, and the Veiny Woman left to find Abrax, hoping to use it to travel to the Free Lands
- The Peas heard an unsettling laugh ring through the air soon after the other group disappeared into a portal
- Journey began to use her Hag's Finger to teleport to Fusalis, but was interrupted by a shadow that extended from one of the slag pillars into the circle of safety
- As the shadow sprouted a face and began to address the group, everyone was immediately hostile, assuming the Nightseeker was behind it
- Eventually the shadow introduced itself as an avatar of Kalar, which Wander recognized to be the god of shadows
- Kalar voiced his concerns about the Nightseeker muscling in on what he viewed has his territory
- While somewhat vague with the details, Kalar proposed that the Peas enter an agreement with him; in exchange for Kalar's guidance, information, and protection, they would take the Nightseeker down and ensure she could never again rise to power
- Wander offered Kalar the soul he caught from the Bagman the group fought in Godsreach, and the god of souls happily received it
- The group hesitantly agreed, shaking hands with snake-like shadows that sprouted from the ground and hearing a distant locking sound in their minds
- Satisfied, Kalar explained that he was protecting their shadows, so they needn't worry about the Nightseeker stealing them
- He also offered some information about Balnar, cryptically stating that he "casts many shadows"
- Kalar promised that if the Nightseeker was dealt with, he would restore Balnar's soul, but reminded the group that their solution had to be permanent
- As he left, he mentioned that Inglis Alexandar was in fact not trapped in the Shadowfell, but was actually moved into the Nightblight itself
- Kalar's shadow receded from the circle, and Journey completed the finger's ritual, transporting them far to the north
- The party suddenly found themselves in a white void, facing a well-dressed man sitting in a chair
- The man stated that he didn't wish to see them go, making the group promise to return
- He then wished to have the group promise to jump into the sea on their return, but facing resistance from the party, settled to have just one member make the deal
- The man threatened that the group would not reach their destination if they did not promise him at least one soul
- After no one in the group spoke up, Leadbelly stepped forward, promising the man he would enter the sea on his return
- Answering the dwarf with a sinister smile, the group was then propelled from the void, finding themselves in a cozy cabin in the middle of snowfall
- The cabin appeared lived-in, but seemed empty
- Journey began to search for clues as the group looked out the windows
- Suddenly, a giant golem of wood burst through the front door, screaming at the party to get out of the house
- Journey stepped forwards to address the golem, which promptly exited the house and ran around the house
- Journey followed, witnessing a woman eject herself from the back of what was in fact a giant suit of wooden armor, into a wooden wheelchair waiting below
- The girl, which Journey knew to be Belyn Woods, embraced Journey from her chair, and became acquainted with the rest of the Peas
- Informing the group that the other family members were out in the woods collecting an animal from a trap, the party entertained her with stories of their adventures
- The rest of the Unknown eventually came back to the cabin late into the night, exchanging pleasantries and preparing a hearty boar stew with the party's help
- Exchanging stories while eating the stew, Journey learned of the strange stone that Nolmoul Woods had found that powered the wooden armor that Belyn used
- Suspicious, the investigated the stone, but found it to be safe, as long as it wasn't used nefariously
- Wander entertained the curious Nolmoul with his magic as Leadbelly investigated Nerfod's wheelchair technology, wagering he could make one for Balnar in the future
- Tyerjon spent some time playing in the snow, enjoying the cold
Ancine 26th, 951
- After a nice breakfast, the group pondered how to get to the ley intersection
- Belyn purported that if time was of the essence, they could seek the assistance of the Shrewboro Hag, though she was a fickle woman
- Deciding that this would be a good course of action to expedite their travels, the group received instructions on how to find the woman's hut, and set off after saying their goodbyes to the Woods
- Remembering what Belyn said about currying favor with the "hag", Wander headed into the Roomy Chest and eventually Razodon's manor to have his cooks whip something up for the lady
- Wander discovered that the usual staff was missing, and found only a very cautious young woman in the kitchen instead
- The woman immediately began questioning Wander's motives after he requested she make something for him, threatening to get the guards before Wander went and got the guard himself
- Wander learned from the guard that the previous cooks had been "disposed of" following an incident where Razodon found poison in his food
- Wander eventually convinced the woman to prepare a meal with him, and she agreed, and made him help her
- After preparing a grand meal, Wander awkwardly gave the chef, named Lillien Hafter, a few silver before bringing the meal up right as the group arrived at the hut
- Approaching the hut located under a grand evergreen tree, the group met with the Shrewboro Hag, offering the grand meal as a gift
- The old but very large woman immediately cleared off a space on a cluttered table as she salivated, immediately digging in with her hands as the meal was placed
- The party awkwardly waited around as she finished
- Content with the offering and in a "good mood", the party explained what they would like of her, and the had agreed, another group had previously used her services to travel to the exact same destination
- Instructing the party to hold still, the woman sprinkled dust across her hands and shocked the group with a blast of lightning, frying some of the party members as their bodies her transmuted into pure electrical energy
- The Peas found themselves flying at ridiculous speeds over the mountains of Fusalis as a bolt of lightning
- As the lightning arced through the air, it eventually began to tunnel through the earth, soon depositing the group into an underground cavern as they re-materialized
- The old but very large woman immediately cleared off a space on a cluttered table as she salivated, immediately digging in with her hands as the meal was placed
- The Peas' sudden entrance surprised a nearby elf covered in pelts and strange paraphernalia
- The party attempted to convince the elf that they were part of the Dracohest, but the elf wasn't having it, and ran off to fetch his superior
- Left alone next to what appeared to be a set of prison cells, Journey discovered that her father Kosmarir had been imprisoned alongside some other villagers
- Kosmarir expressed disbelief and anger that Journey had arrived without Karcius and Valx, further incensed that she had brought more outsiders into the village
- Kosmarir explained that the Dracohest were occupying the village, and the he had been imprisoned for attempting to revolt against them, resulting in the removal of his horns
- A young human covered in pelts, scales and teeth approached the party from the far side of the cavern alongside a purple tiefling with a wild look that Journey identified as her sister, Ark
- The human, which Ark referred to as Craxen, rudely began to interrogate the party, demanding that they give him a reason not to just destroy them where they stood
- Journey noticed that Ark's behavior had become twisted and cruel, very different from the sister she knew
- Angered at Craxen, Journey began to tell him off
- Craxen responded to this aggression by seizing a pink crystal and controlling the party like puppets with the sole exception of Phaelnah
- Phaelnah attempted to act as if she was controlled as well, but Ark noticed her performance and called her out, prompting Craxen to try and use the power again, failing once more
- Not wishing to wait and see what the man would try next, Phaelnah launched a Guiding Bolt, critting him and sending him stumbling back
- Managing to keep his concentration, Craxen attempted to send Ark after Phaelnah as she launched a Nightseeker's Blessing, killing the man outright
- With the group freed from the man's control, they prepared for a fight as the cultists around the cavern began to converge on their location
- The party began to engage the cultists as the captured Shiesians pleaded for their freedom
- Tyerjon rushed towards a cultist that seemed to revere him, not wishing to fight
- Falling on deaf ears, the dragonborn attacked the cultist, prompting some brutes to attempt to neutralize him
- Leadbelly chopped the lock off of two of the prisons, freeing some of the Shiesians
- Afterwards, adopted a protective stance, holding back a line of magicians and brutes alongside Seamus
- Journey attempted to neutralize Ark with a Shiesian Kiss
- A cultist sacrificed himself to raise Craxen once again as the others attacked the group
- Wander used Alter Self to disguise himself as a dragonborn, tricking the cultists into believing he had transformed by their spells
- The Shiesians began to attack, but their attacks weren't terribly effective
- Phaelnah retreated and healed herself
- Craxen, tricked by Wander, called him a "miracle" as he blasted the party with powerful necrotic energy, slicing through some of the Shiesians
- The brutes rushed in and began attacking Seamus
- Kosmarir attempted to rally the Shiesians, but missed his spell
- A giant abomination summoned by Craxen known as Yasgithiath bounded out of a rear cave, screaming
- Tyerjon used Frosthold to cut a path of wind and mist into the creature
- Leadbelly and Seamus continued to slice through cultists on the opposite side of the cave
- Journey used Jewelfire Smite on Craxen, turning him into a crystal statue and absorbing his pink crystal into Malae
- One of the cultists raised Craxen's spirit as a wraith
- Wander used Faerie Fire around some of the cultists around Seamus and Leadbelly
- Ark pursued Phaelnah and struck at her, and the elf responded by casting Hold Person and running away
- An elvish cultist that emerged from a back room launched a spike of necrotic energy at Journey, dealing some heavy damage
- Wander convinced one of the cultists to join him in fighting Yasgithiath
- Kosmarir attempted to knock Ark out, but couldn't managed to summon enough power to defeat her, despite her being held
- Tyerjon and Wander became convinced by the abomination that they were devoted to Xac'huranac, attacking them shortly afterwards
- Tyerjon answered with his own attack against the beast as Leadbelly sliced down the brutes
- When her brother Valdoswalked up to her, Journey let loose an Iridescent Shatterflame, knocking him out
- Wander attacked Yasgithiath in the name of Xac'huranac, dealing some heavy structural damage
- The Shiesians continued to be mostly useless as they were slaughtered
- Kisya entered the battlefield, yelling out to Journey to not allow Valdos to touch her
- Phaelnah "scampered" away from her problems, casting Dimensional Tendril on Yasgithiath
- The elf threw another spike of necrotic energy at Phaelnah, missing her and the wraith behind her, critically striking Journey in the back
- Journey managed to rally from the grievous injury and Dimension Door'd to the other side of the room
- The wraith continued to attack the Shiesians, who started dropping like flies
- Kosmarir continued to be useless
- Yasgithiath destroyed the cult member that Wander managed to turn
- As Journey attempted to use Crystal Evocation, the magic went wild as Malae's crystal began to crack, with Journey using all her power to keep her crystal from breaking
- The Shiesians started getting turned into zombies and specters
- Seamus got dropped by a powerful magical attack from one of the cultists
- Ark slashed into Kosmarir, downing him as she continued to chase after Phaelnah
- Kisya spoke with Journey, imploring her to leave
- Phaelnah slashed out at Ark with a Talon Strike soon after bringing Seamus up with a Healing Word
- The elf cultist sent another spike at Journey, hitting Kisya instead and immediately knocking her out
- One of the cultists finally attacked Leadbelly, but the damage from Leadbelly's Zeranzan Shield shocked and killed him instead
- Another cultist took Seamus down again
- Yasgithiath focused on Wander, savagely brutalizing him as Tyerjon attacked the abomination from behind
- Leadbelly brought Seamus back up with a health potion, and shocked another cultist with his Storm Aura
- Journey sent a powerful Cone of Cold towards the elf caster, sending him into system shock
- Wander tore Yasgithiath to shreds, lacerating the heart and impaling the brain with his Godsent Dagger
- The Shiesians continued to fall and get specterized
- Phaelnah launched a Guiding Bolt against Ark and jumped into the mist
- The elf caster attacked and missed Wander as the rogue attempted to trip him into the cavernous hole with a Grease spell
- Tyerjon dashed across the cavern to attack Ark, slowing her with her Collector Helm
- Leadbelly continued to cut a path through the cultist brutes
- Journey Dimension Door'd herself and Kisya over to Phaelnah, seeking aid for her sister
- Tyerjon nearly took Ark down as she pursued Phaelnah through the mists, stabbing at the elf with a necrotic blade
- Phaelnah moved away and healed Kisya with a Cure Wounds spell
- Tyerjon began killing the specters
- Wander attempted to make the elf caster that was attempting to run fall into the pit with a Hideous Laughter spell, but the joke fell flat
- The party started to clean up the surviving cultists as the undead specters were taken care of, but Kisya got taken down by one of the specters
- Tyerjon rushed towards a cultist that seemed to revere him, not wishing to fight
- As the dust settled, Journey discovered that Kosmarir had passed from the wounds he received from Ark
- Phaelnah asked if Journey wished to see him returned to life, and she couldn't answer
Boss Battle Stats:
- Wander set the new record for highest damage in a round at 126
- Tyerjon dealt the most damage, missing only 2 attacks over the entire battle
- Leadbelly got 5 crits; in comparison, I got 8 over the entire course of the battle, Tyerjon got 1, Journey 0, Phaelnah 1, Seamus 2, Wander 2
- Seamus took the most damage and went down the most
- Journey took the biggest single chunk of damage
- Phaelnah did the most healing, imagine that
- Tyerjon and Wander managed to take down Yasgithiath, who had 392 health and was meant to be a threat to the entire party
- If Craxen had not been taken down in the beginning, y'all might be dead