I'm Going to Run [Session 41]

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Current Situation

• The Trollmates are still locked in battle with the Shaman of The Elves of Ardeep. They volunteered to help the elves after learning their Ascentar, Rond Arrowhome had been mortally wounded and The Green Glade, home to perpetual springtime, had fallen under a deep winter. As they continue their battle, the stakes just got a little higher as now even the trees seem to be their enemies.

Session Summary

• Elyana, thinking fast, grabs Dhann's arm with, "I'm going to Thunderstep" and in the next instant, the two of them bamph forward in space, directly in front of the shaman. Seeing that she's landed right next to the white orb, the Warlock begins shucking off her winter coat. Z calls out that he'll distract the tree, and then viciously mocks the awakened thing. The Bard then skips a bit to the east to remain at a distance, should the tree pursue him. The vine from earlier begins to twitch towards the center of the action. Dhann, face to face with the shaman, sees that he's surprisingly tall, willowy, and covered in tattoos and ceremonial face paints. Slamming his shield forward, Dhann knocks the shaman to the ground, and Spiritual Weapon bonks the orb off of the pedestal, where it rolls gently to Elyana's feet. She tosses her coat over it, scoops it up, and, seeing the shaman scrambling backwards and summoning a black energy between his hands, quickly dispels whatever he was conjuring. Anoin Vellana fires arrows at the tree, and Barrett sprints deftly past the massive, swinging tree on his way up the stairs to get to the shaman.
• The tree, meanwhile, goes straight for the Bard. Lumbering forward are two more trees, then, on either side of the stone platform and they make for the center of the glade to get into melee range. The one to the west hurls a boulder at the running Monk, but it sails overhead. Elyana, coated orb in arms, runs to the edge of the platform, hops down, and Misty Steps further away and takes cover behind a corner of ruins. Z scampers directly into the tree following him, hopping and dodging all the way up the trunk into the thickest of the branches. In the meantime, Dhann tackles the shaman and snags him in a grapple to keep him, hopefully, from escaping. Anoin shoots a fire arrow at the smaller tree to the east and flames burst through the leaves.
  
• Instead of trying to escape from the Cleric's hold, the shaman instead begins to hiss words in Sylvan and casts a nasty blight on Dhann, who suddenly finds himself feeling drained and sick, but still holding on. Barrett then arrives and, without preamble, begins to pummel the shaman unceremoniously in the head. Within the span of a few solid punches, the shaman is successfully senselessThe tree with Z attempts to shake the Tabaxi loose, but is unable to. It begins to stomp over to the icy creek, plunging into the shallow water. Another of the trees flings another boulder at Barrett, and while it does slam into him, he's able to reduce some of the damage with his Monkish training.
  
• Elyana runs from behind the wall, Blessing Barrett and Dhann. She then ducks behind the ruins of a well. Then running back to the orb, Elyana unwraps a part of it to take a glimpse at it and see if she can identify it. While she's never seen one of these in person before, it reminds her very, very much of the Mythallar. Z, not wanting to be near water, leaps cleanly out and away from the massive tree, taunting it all the way. Dhann hurriedly digs through the shaman's pockets, looking to find the focus that he may be using to cast spells. Finding an ermine pelt pouch with a bronze beetle, he gets the sense that this is what the shaman is channeling his magical energy through, and shows it to Barrett, letting him know that the shaman shouldn't be able to cast without the object.
• Barrett, knowing the shaman is currently down for the count, shoots arrows at the attacking trees. Even with the shaman knocked out, the plants haven't fallen dormant. The Warlock leaves cover again, shooting Eldritch Blasts at the nearest tree. One misses while one hits. She continues to run, up the side stairs of the platform, towards the majority of the party. Z causes one of the trees to burst into a fit of barky giggles, and yells to Anoin, "Don't hit the one by the water!"
• Dhann casts Spare the Dying on the shaman, and then smears a vial of diamond dust across the shaman's forehead, thinking to break a curse, if there is one present on the wood elf, while saying, "Wake up and call off the trees!" Down by Z, Anoin draw her massive sword again, and with a wild bellow, attacks the truck of the largest tree, even if it's on fire.
• At this point, the shaman wakes up, and looks horribly confused, and instantly works to scramble away from Dhann and Barrett, gaining his feet and gasping in Elvish, "What's going on?!" and tries to cast a spell, but notices instantly that his focus is missing. Barrett, sensing the shaman's reaction is genuine, responds, in Common, "Speak in Common - we're friends, call off these trees." He then moves to attack one of the smaller trees, that's made its way onto the platform. He then moves to take up a position between Dhann and the tree, to cover the Cleric's back.
• The largest of the trees swings at Anoin, and slams a limb across the young elf maiden, but she rallies back quickly and continues her assault. The tree nearest Barrett also swings, hitting the Monk, but Elyana is able to reduce some of the hurt taken. Barrett's Wrath of the Storm fires off in response. Elyana, at this time, is able to get to Dhann and Barrett on the platform, blasting Eldritch magic all the way. The tree on the platform is beginning to look incredibly rough. Z attacks the smaller southward tree with his Rilers, and it becomes enraged to attack the nearest creature, which happens to be the largest tree.
• Dhann holds out the shaman's focus, gauging that by Barrett's reaction to whatever the other wood elf said, that the malaise causing the shaman to harm others has vanished. "Rond sent us with Anoin - we're here to help." As Dhann says this, he Channels divine healing to the shaman, who begins to look much improved. The shaman does reach out and take back his focus. Anoin continues to shave bark off of the largest tree with her sword.
• In charge of his faculties and joining the fray, the shaman sprints towards the largest tree and casts Blight - the black energy swirls in his hands and the plant shrivels instantly, dying and withering away. He turns, shouting, "Just back away! I'll deal with them!"
  
• Barrett leaps toward the well to the west and takes arrow shots at the other trees. Succumbing to the arrows and flame, the smaller tree on the platform dies. The third tree stomps westward and chucks another boulder but it sails well over Barrett's head. Elyana shoots Eldritch blasts towards it, and the thing is still alive, but just barely. Ely then runs down the stairs, and pauses. Z taunts the smaller and final tree again. Dhann holds his attacks, keeping the shaman in sight, as well as Ely - just in case someone needs healing. Spiritual Weapon bunches the pile of ashes directly in front of him, the remains of the second of the trees. Anoin lights an arrow on fire, and shoots it at the third and final tree, which bursts into flame. The shaman casts another spell that none of the Trollmates recognize, but whatever it is, it returns the third and final tree back to its normal, non-animated tree state, although it continues to burn. Turning to Dhann, he yells, "That should do it!" Danger, for the time being, seems to have concluded. Barrett and Ely also hear him call this.
  
• Barrett moves southward and yells out for Z and Anoin, asking if they're alright. Z's dancing, seems just fine, and Anoin can't be seen from where Barrett is but Z gives him a double thumbs up. Elyana moves to retrieve the orb from where she left it behind the corner wall. She picks it up, and heads back towards where Dhann is. Z checks on Anoin, who has taken a bit of damage, looking rough, but clearly has plenty of fight left. She grabs Z's jacket and begins to tug him toward the platform. "Thank you, thank you so much!" Dhann holds his position, waiting to either attack the shaman if he turns again, or heal someone, again, if they need it. Z and Anoin arrive at the platform, too.
  
• The shaman, seeing her, embraces her and Anoin is clearly crying. The shaman expresses he doesn't know what happened, and it's then he sees the bodies. Anoin says, "I don't know, but I'm glad you're back!" The shaman turns to the group for answers, but Z says, "That's what we came here to find out." The shaman, it seems, came to deal with the snow but has no recollection of what happened after. When he asks, "Where is the Mythal?" Dhann steps closer to Ely, who says, "I have it." He asks for it back, but Ely hesitates, concerned he might use it again to attack with more trees. The shaman asks then if she's willing to just hold it out. He seems genuine in asking. He sincerely wants to see it for some purpose. Ely, not moving closer, shows a part of it when she moves her coat and the shaman looks relieved. He's hesitant himself, to touch it, then asks if anyone is a druid, and can help restore the glade. When they answer no, Anoin moves in to assist. Taking the Mythal, Anoin then replaces it on the pedestal, and stands with the shaman, who places her hands on her shoulders. He's casting an ancient spell, and Dhann recognizes Sylvan.
• Spring blooms forth from the center of the Glade, and with in the next several minutes, greenery and living and thriving flora restore the entire Glade to its former perpetual spring. The snow melts and recedes, and the creek runs clean and swift.
• Anoin then says they need to return, swiftly, to the camp with the rest of the elves to alert Rond as to what's transpired. The Mythal is essentially a keeper of the Glade and will remain on its pedestal. Barrett cautiously approaches the orb, clearly struggling with memories of what happened to him on the The Roaming Isle, before giving the Mythal a quick tap with the end of his staff. Energy moves up the staff and makes contact with Barrett, who freezes at first, but instead of pain, the light brings warmth and comfort with it, and his blue scar seems to glow and then fade just a bit, as if taking a bit of healing energy. Barrett tells the group he needs a minute to think, alone, and so the rest of them head back to the camp, concerned, but respectfully understanding.
  
• Along the way, the shaman explains what happened:
  • He remembers arriving at the Glade to start trying to heal it from the fog and mushrooms. Something in the process went wrong. He tried to cast his normal spells, but nothing seemed to work.
  • When he reached out to the Mythal to seek assistance, something unnatural happened. He doesn't know the cause, but something corrupted the Mythal, or him.
  • He remembers being able to use the Mythal to make his spells more powerful, but most of his spells turned to those of death rather than life. He also vaguely recollects killing each of the elves who came to help, culminating in wounding the Ascentar.
• Arriving back at camp, Rond, still weak, is up, and able to speak. At the sight of the shaman, he goes on the defensive but Anoin rushes forward to reassure him that everything is normal.
• With formal introductions, the shaman tells the group his name is Ruvaen. The discussion continues:
  • Ruvaen never saw anyone else in the Glade that shouldn't have been there. Only him, and then any elves that showed up to try and help him.
  • Dhann asks Ely to Prestidigitate Shadow again, but this time, the harmful manifestation of it, like the group saw on Alectos. Ely does so, and Dhann moves back from it, still disturbed. Ruvaen, however, studies it with solemn intensity for a good span before asking Ely if she's conjuring it, or it's simply an illusion for reference. When she says it's the latter, he reveals he's seen something like this before, but only once.
  • There was a man in the woods, who "used to be Drezlin Nandar" and he walked the forest about fourteen or fifteen days ago. Ruvaen saw him through the fog, and isn't sure if it was an illusion or not, but it was when the fog first manifested. The man did not acknowledge Ruvaen's call, but instead, vanished in a swirl of this Shadowy magic.
  • The group expresses that the Glade should be guarded more closely, as they aren't sure if Drezlin knows about the presence of the Mythal.
  • Barrett arrives and asks about the Mythal. It's very old, has always been a part of the Elves of Ardeep, and at one time it was a beacon of hope for many around. As trolls and goblins moved into the woods, the Mythal became more of a beacon of peace for the elves alone, reminding them of their roots.
  • It's a powerful source of magic and in difficult times, it's been used to heal wounded, sick, end famines, but it mostly serves as a source of peace and hope for them during this war of the orcs, and then the struggles with the Nandars. They are a peaceful people, and only fight if they must.
  • Barrett then asks about the arrow, and the discussion becomes even more interesting.
  • Ruvaen examines the arrow, and asks where it came from. The group tells him, and Ruvaen hands it back, recognizing it as the arrow that killed Drezlin. He wants nothing to do with it. It never belonged to the elves.
  • Prior to the confrontation that ended with Drezlin's death, prior to forming a treaty, the elves decided to ride against Nightstone in an attempt to stop the people from ravaging their forest, but it was not the elves who killed the former High Steward.
  • An additional rider happened to show up as they headed to Nightstone. He was cloaked in black, on a black horse, expressing he wanted to help. His face was under a deep hood, but his countenance was pale, chin narrow. His horse, unfathomably fast, never seemed to touch the ground. He loosed the single arrow, with unfathomable accuracy, and the conflict ended with Lord Nandar's body hitting the ground. The man felt "of magic" and didn't even seem of this world.
  • After the shot, the rider met up with an identical horseman. Both were slender, dressed in black leather armor, black clothing, no race was discernible. They spoke in Common, but their voices eerily resonated. No names were given, nor have they been seen since.
    
  • Dhann suggests the presence of a demigod, and Ruvaen expresses that this may very well have been the case - the man wasn't a deity but felt not unlike one. The first man had the bow, and the second had what looked like a shortsword or a rapier. Not a longsword. It hung on his left hip. The horses had no saddles, either, no gear, no tack.
  • The two riders arrived from the north, but they had next to no gear, so must have committed to traveling light. When it was all over, they also left to the north.
    
  • One of them, the clasp on his cape - it was a skull with a black starburst. Clearly the sigil of Cyric. The second horseman was too far away to discern any identifiable sigils or symbols.
  • The first rider approached the elves as they headed to Nightstone. They had never seen him prior, and haven't seen him, or his fellow, since.
  • Z asks if they "smelled like evil," and now that he makes a comment like that, the elves remember that they had no smell whatsoever. Not even the horses had any scent. Their clothing, too, was spotless, which would be impossible if they'd truly been riding on the road for any length of time. They had no color either, on their persons or horses, or gear.
  • The elves really never meant for anyone to die during the skirmish, it was simply to intimidate Nightstone.
  • Dhann remarks that it sounds like the men seen were the rumored twin sons of Cyric, Risque and Muse. Ruvaen agrees this would explain quite a bit. "You have a Mythal in your Glade. I would keep a very close eye on it."
    
  • If the elves hear, see, or remember anything at all related to this, Barrett asks the elves to reach out to the Trollmates, and they readily agree to this. "We're caught up in something we ourselves don't understand completely, but we do know that, well, Cyric is involved in some way, shape or form, and that's why we're trying to collect all of the information we can."
    
  • Z hums a bit of the Greasy Cat song, but none of the elves recognize the tune, but they do know someone was looking for the fellow. They know nothing more than that, unfortunately. They do, however, know that the person looking for the Greasy Cat was a rotund, wildly haired man whose name sounded like Riffkin but was definitively not Rimpkin by name. He was very short, portly, and laughed a lot.
    

• Ruvaen then walks over to a small shelf that is near the cot of the Ascentar, who is sitting and watching the dialogue, opens a drawer, and returns with two potions as a thank you:
  • Potion of Speak with Plants
  • Potion of Possibility
• They are placed in Elminster’s Bag of Holding.
• Ruvaen says that the Trollmates have gained allied today for all of their help. Rond and Anoin bow in thanks as well, and the elves offer their help anytime the Trollmates may need it, including escorts and protection through the forest and their territory any time they may travel in the area. They will travel with the group back to Mirt's Hunting Lodge to ensure their safety.
• Rond then turns to the foot of his cot and retrieves:
  • A small hunting horn, and gifts it to the Trollmates. It's beautifully carved and made from the horn of some creature. "Anywhere in the Ardeep Forest, if you blow this, you will have our aid." It is accepted humbly and it seems fitting Z hold it.
• Dhann asks permission to let Velrosa Nandar know that the elves are true allies of Nightstone and that it was not their doing her husband was killed in the skirmish. The Ascentar agrees, and says that they are going to send a group to thank Nightstone for their assistance, especially considering the aid has surpassed the treaty the town and tribe have maintained.
• The Cleric then tries to give a Potion of Healing for the Ascentar's continued recovery, but he is graciously refused, Ruvaen saying he and they can take care of their own, and the potion may be needed by the group, given their errands.
• Anoin accompanies the escort to the Lodge, two other guards remaining with the party, and another two who patrol much further out, blending into the trees and plants on either side of group. As the two parties bid each other farewell, Barrett gifts Anoin with two more fire arrows, and she excitedly accepts them.
• Meeting up with Mirt, the Trollmates teleport back to Trollskull Tavern to prepare for the looming Summit.

-

A verdant eternal Spring has been restored to the glade, however, none of it gets past the concern occupying Ely’s mind. She looks on at the group as they prepare to leave, Anoin beckoning them to follow, but Ely’s legs struggle to move ahead. Anxiety keeps them in place. Concern for the safety of this mythal. Concern for Barrett’s reaction to seeing it. She looks at the mythal and then over to where Barrett is just visible sitting at the well. Events are moving too quickly and she doesn’t want to leave him behind. The feeling makes her hesitate long enough for a flash of memory to slip through. She’s standing on the airship as it takes off from the now soaring Roaming Isle, watching Tabitha walk away from them to make her own way back to Waterdeep. The turmoil she felt then, hits a little harder now. The argument they had afterward. Her decision to just let Tabitha be Tabitha. Tabitha’s decision to leave.

If Ely stayed behind to wait for him, it would just be to cure her own worries; to give herself peace of mind. Barrett needed the space to come to terms with his own fears and worries. If it were her, she’d want to be left alone and trusted to be able to handle herself. She should afford Barrett the same courtesy and she respects him enough to give him that.

With a heavy sigh, Ely forces her foot to slide forward, crushing the newly grown grass beneath her sole and moving past her anxiety, towards the others.

Barrett absently watches his friends depart the green glade.  He’s relieved they didn’t put up a fight and simply let him have his moment. He’s thankful he didn’t get a good look at the orb during the battle.  After the fight, when he saw the familiar Mythallar-sheen, it was all he could do not to break down.  Only his monk’s Stillness of Mind training kept him sane enough to control the fight or flight response that threatened to envelop him.

After all, it’s not often that one meets the thing that killed you.

As he made his way slowly and reluctantly across the ancient ruined temple toward the glowing orb and his friends, he was trying to decide what to do.  Destroy it?  Run from it?  Steal it?  Worship it?

The gentle tap he gave the mythal with his staff wasn’t meant to provoke a response.  He’s not even sure why he did that, other than to assure himself it wasn’t an illusion. Then that surge of all too familiar radiant energy crawled up the staff and…well, something is different now.  Despite the pleasant, ambient spring time temperatures, the scar feels cold, yet it is giving off an unpleasant warmth like a low grade fever.

He’ll have to meditate on this - maybe even find sensei at a monastery near Waterdeep to help him work through what it means.  If he can’t find answers there, then he’ll need to return to the Roaming Isle to work it out. He rises, giving the Mythal one last glance.  It is mesmerizing and lovely, but in the same way a rolling sea is before it turns into a violent storm capable of pulling you into itself and absorbing you forever.

Either way, it’s best to batten down the hatches for what’s ahead.

The instantaneousness of their return to Trollskull is a blessing, and Dhann’s grateful that everyone makes it back in one piece. The amount of information, revelations, and encounters of the past two days is…well, it’s a lot. Once in the common room, Dhann makes his customary round of checking the shades and locks. He knows they’re secure, but habit gives his hands something to do while his mind, registering the group is properly home, begins to process everything they’ve learned. But even with the cruciality and gravity of it all, his friends come first.

It hasn’t been unnoticed that Z’s been employing his bracers quite often now, and that the Bard’s been more vocal lately about inventions and items he has in the works, but being gone so often from Trollskull is surely making things difficult. Dhann knows nothing of weaving, really, or the intricacies of mechanisms that Artificers seem to rightly conjure up, but - the Cleric has an idea of something that might help Z, even when away from home. He’ll have to ask around. Hopefully the idea isn’t too whimsical.

When he’d asked Elyana if she would be willing to conjure a sliver of Shadow infection to see if the Druid recognized it, Dhann wasn’t prepared for how much that sight, even aware it was an illusion, would disturb him. He’s not sure when it started, but being able to recognize Shadow is almost beginning to feel instinctive. Perhaps he’s overthinking it. But what he’s not overthinking is that seeing the tendril writhing around on Ely’s hand was jarring. And the last time Ely was close to that manifestation of Shadow, it had been when Alectos had been dying and gods know that entire venture had to be nothing short of traumatic for the Warlock. He’ll see if she’s up for talking, after they’ve all rested.

Barrett will talk, if he talks, when he’s ready. Dhann had been suspicious at how familiar the little orb had been, when he’d seen it up close; Ruvaen’s words and Barrett’s reaction had confirmed just what that sphere was. Choosing to leave the glade, and the Monk, had him pause, intensely, but trust is very much a decision at times and Dhann had to trust Barrett was deciding what was right for him, then. Perhaps Barrett will talk later, perhaps he won’t. As long as he does what’s right for him, with this. Before heading upstairs, Dhann quietly lets Barrett know the Chapel will be empty tonight, if Barrett needs it.

Dhann vanishes for a few minutes into the kitchen to let Erky know they’re back, before crossing back through the common room, bidding everyone a quiet good night, and disappearing into the fourth floor study.

-

Next time on...

Back home, the Trollmates spend the next few days preparing to be seen by the Lords of Waterdeep, for whatever reasons may only become apparent once they're in the hot seats. Discussions about where to place what items, who may or may not attend, and what might happen at the Summit are talks that have been waiting in the wings to occur. No one is happy about needing to attend, but attend they must...