Session 23

Mysteries Revealed

Juniper's Lab

Inside they find a laboratory, numerous books among the shelves, and some potions and poultices still being made. Ilea takes a try at completing the potions and learns to make Superior Mundane Potions, then completes a potion that she believes will also allow for the binding of a soul to a body. Potentially something that could be of use to help bring Rhone's soul back into his body. Hidden in the floor, Ajax and Eressil discover a wooden area that can be magically controlled to open up and within the underlying compartment, they find a copy of Eressil's mother's journal. It makes note of Juniper meeting Fara Caimon at one of the runes and the conversation they held, as well as the possibility of using wings from the Midnight Butterfly as a means of negating extremely powerful magic.

Meeting Onir

After exploring and making their way out of the laboratory and finally out of the home, they meet with Insert who finally agrees to help only because it will mean getting the Stormbringer out of Dorwood even sooner.

Insert leads them back to the church, and introduces them to Onir. There they discuss the dangers they faced and the predicament that has befallen Rhone. Knowing more than the group, Onir states that they need Rhone awake and conscious. He also goes more in depth into Juniper's mother's research into the first signs of life that are found within the plane itself. Juniper studied and essentially continued research into topics forbidden by the church. For this reason, she was exiled from the city in the end. He mentions that the origin of the plane of Oleun is unnatural. It is not a true plane of existence. It was created by someone or something of extreme power. This information could destroy societies in the church's opinion, should it be known that such powerful beings are possibly still controlling the realm of Oleun.

He tells them of the 3 runes of Fara Caimon, that Juniper had started to investigate. These runes are: the Jackalope Rune, the Butterfly Rune, and the Grymweird rune. These are her Sacred sites that have been blessed and are under her protection. The last time anyone dared transgress against these rules, Fara Caimon had cursed 8 noble families, transforming their heritages to those of the bestial species found across the realms, or so the stories say.

Meanwhile, Ashe and Ilea are investigating the Eagle Rune, looking for the Moonlit Lily. They are told by a random clergyman that "investigation into the Moonlit Lily's is discouraged without Fara Caimon's blessing." They take a sip of the "mind-altering" drugs that they purchased from Brew, only to find it has no effect.

The Deathbringer's Identity

Eressil asks about the identity of the Deathbringer, and Onir says that the Deathbringer is the fire child with their group, Ashe. Internal reports of the Triumvirate state that she went on a killing spread, executing the 3 leaders of the Triumvirate. How she was able to do this and why, are unknown. Zen is shocked and leaves at the mentioning of this. She has an obvious look of confusion about her, and is clearly upset. These killings were kept secret to maintain control of the corrupt underground networks operating within Ebonrow. This became a little more known within the group after Ajax had left Ebonrow. Onir offers to have the church watch over Rhone's body while they investigate the runes.

Zen heads out to confront Ashe about the murder spree she went on. Ashe explains that after the burning down of Patadorn, when they went to Ebonrow to investigate, she would sneak out at night and take vengeance on those that she felt were involved and evil enough to warrant her death. She hid this from Zen because she didn't think they would approve of it.

The Down & Swaddle Inn

Susan
Owner of the Down & Swaddle Inn

They decide to rest up for the night before heading to the Butterfly Rune the next morning. They meet the rather eccentric, six-fingered, tavern owner, Susan. His accent wanders as he serves the group up a platter of Caribda, also known as Spider Meat, often put in sausage form. After being warned by a fellow patron, they are extremely hesitant to try the Caribda.

They convince Susan to deliver some Caribda to Ajax. He disappears into the back, and quickly comes back out with a platter of Caribda Sausage, while wearing a sombrero and holding a couple of sparklers. As he makes his way up the stairs, he sings the Happy Birthday song. He hip checks the door and makes his way in, continuing his song. He chucks some of the Caribda into Ajax's mouth. The taste is disgusting and threatens to make Ajax vomit. Ajax eschews him out of the room, and then polymorph's himself into a snail and hides under the pillow.

Zen makes her way up to Ajax's room to check on him after hearing Susan say the Caribda put him "right to sleep." Ashe believes the potion is finally kicking in as Susan describes that Ajax was "Snailing" last time he saw him. Eressil turns into a snail as well and starts trying to talk to Ashe to play around with her. Ashe makes her way upstairs to the first open room. She wedges her battle axe against the door to "lock it". She lays in the bed and tries to get some rest.

Downstairs, Ilea is holding Eressil while she is in snail form. Zen has another beer and heads upstairs to her room. Ilea and Eressil order small cup of Hognaster Ale, an invisible ale. Ilea comments on how it tastes like Chicken. It is made from ale filled up within a Turkey's bladder.

Eressil is frustrated because she doesn't know what to do, and feels like every hope they come across turns out to be a dead end. Ilea tries to reassure her that she believes Rhone is in a safe place for the moment being.

A Bump in the Night

Ajax awakens as his Polymorph spell wears off, ending up having Ashe's head cradled into his chest. He is still tasting the Caribda, as he casts Greater Invisibility on himself. He then takes a deep breath, jumps out of the bed, jolting Ashe awake as he makes his way to the door. Upon seeing the battle-axe, he runs towards the window and misty steps through the window to the roof of the building on the other side of the street. As the misty step finishes, he is able to quickly grab on to the edge of the building. He spends a moment trying to lick his shirt to finish getting the taste of the Caribda out of his mouth. As he attempts to pull himself up, the shingles loosen, unable to support his weight, and Ajax falls to the floor.

Ashe, being startled awake by all of this, is paranoid about what is going on. She finally sees Ajax's stuff in the room, and decides to move into another room. She completely investigates the room and makes sure that nothing is hidden there.

Ajax, cleans himself off, and finally wanders town until he finds another inn. Not caring about what inn it is, he walks into the Blue Corners Inn and asks for a room. Ajax ends up washing the dishes in order to have free stay for the night.