Session 36 - Dark Before the Dawn

This is the 36th session of the game Ashes.

## Summary

The party wakes up in the Jaunt and discusses their plan for the day. They hope that by helping Rook solve what's going on in Brunstock that they may gain more sway in the city, and hopefully can find a route to peacefully end the rioting.

Enos and Rook arrive shortly thereafter, and the entire party makes their way out of Kronstrad once again and heads towards the town of Brunstock. Rook tells the group the plan. The plan is to meet with Rook’s brothers-in-arms from the Society, Beckett, and Daidax, and establish a four corner observation of Brunstock. Enos and Rook are to head to the main location at the Worn Mug. Astraea and Acaelus are to meet with Beckett at an inn called Delby's Shadow. Emeran and Autumn are to go to the broken windmill and make contact with Daidax. Themus and Elias are to make their way to an abandoned farmhouse. From these four positions, the party can observe the whole of Brunstock to ensure the safety of the town, and to track where the nearby demons are hiding. Rook has a general idea but needs another night to be sure. The party is to sleep for the night and meet at the windmill in the very early morning, and should anything go wrong they are to find Rook at the Worn Mug.

Acaelus and Astraea make their way to Delby's Shadow and meet with Beckett who is in disguise as a local geologist. He takes them back up to his room where he explains that he will keep watch for the night. Acaelus notices among the collected stones in the room one that stands out, which is determined to be volcanic glass that Beckett sourced locally. Beckett remarks how strange it is to find something like that in mainland Kronstrad, and explains the glass's natural magical properties, giving it to Acaelus.

Emeran and Autumn make their way to the broken windmill and meet Daidax who greets them rather coldly. She explains that she is rather new to the Society and did some fighting in the Underdark which prepared her for the kind of work. She says she'll watch over the two of them so they can sleep.

Themus and Elias make their way to the abandoned farmhouse and tie off their horses in the nearby barn. They get inside and see that the place is old and filthy, Rook had mentioned that they were investigating what exactly happened there. They do a sweep of the house and discover a cellar door buired beneath the snow that is locked. They decide it's best to investigate and unlock the door and head down. They enter the basement and discover two humanoid silhouettes burned into the wall, the entire basement smelling like iron and ash. Elias casts Turn Undead and the two silhouettes fade away. The pair decide to leave and meet back up with Rook, and realize that Themus's horse has vanished from the barn. After a moment the horse returns, branded just like how Enos's chest is branded. The pair leave the farmhouse on horseback and head to the Worn Mug. Elias casts Zone of Truth when they get there to confirm everyone is who they say they are, Enos, Rook, Themus, and Elias all pass the test. Rook says that they will have to take action at the farmhouse after the party meets up.

When they head to bed, Themus has a nightmare about his house being burned down, and see's his parents lit ablaze walking towards him. He is told by a voice to join them. Suddenly Themus is standing awake in the bedchamber with a torch close to his face, Elias wakes to find Themus over his bed. The two talk about what happened.

In the early morning, the party convenes at the broken windmill, and the Patrons along with Rook and Enos make their way to the farmhouse, head into the basement, and find an opening portal.