The Story So Far...

## Session 1: Oh Deer! The Adventure Begins

Jeis:

* Staying at the only inn in Phandalin
* Liam - Stonehill Inn owner (Dad <3)
	+ Letting Jeis stay here; god knows why
	+ Jeis bullies the shit out of him
	+ Tall boy, Human, intimidating, boxy face, underbite, short hair dark, “tinge of” blue skin?????, half-orc (Jeis doesn’t know that), 6’ 3”
		- Barbarian
		- Hidden features?????
		- Works for Rhyxali? - can ask for help
* Dinner with Rhyxali every first of the week around noon
	+ She can’t eat, so she feeds on secrets (skin book)
	+ Viractuth - reluctant butler to demon mom
	+ Asked for crow pet
	+ Does not like talking about her mother
	+ “Follow the sign no matter what”
* At Stonehill Inn, after dinner with Rhyxali, Reytna & Torhd are also there
	+ As soon as Torhd waks in, giant crack splits up the door
		- \*this may be important\*
	+ Comes to play poker with Jeis & two suckers
	+ Torhd accidentally splits the table, Jeis blames the other two & covers for him
* *Status: Is sitting with Torhd after covering for his destructive tendencies, realizing that this is her sign from Rhyxali and that she’s going to have to follow him*

Banks:

* Visited by adventuring party/rehab crew (Do not know the name of Organization)
	+ Were searching for an egg, but never found it
	+ Got attacked
	+ Made a deal with a manticore
* Rune tried to sneak in, had a heart-to-heart
	+ Drugged him and stole his materia medica
	+ Left a “sorry” note, and 1 silver
* Set off toward Neverwinter to follow the party
* *Status: Is passing through Phandalin on his way to Neverwinter, stopping at the Stonehill Inn, unknowingly about to meet the rest of the crew*

## Session 2: Roped Inn

* Jeis threatened some Boomer talking shit with a knife
	+ Reytna takes the knife and confronts Jeis about the source of her magic (bc she been knew)
	+ Jeis eventually tells her, learns about Reytna’s tree situation. Decides to trust her. They both want to know what’s up with Torhd, who broke everything in the Inn.
* Banks went to visit Liam, an old friend, on his way through Phandolin. Liam asks Banks for his help in taking the crew to do a quest off the town job board to make the Inn look a little better in the town’s eyes.
* Liam convinces Banks to take the crew to do some community work to pay back the dmg to the tavern that Torhd did (which Jeis covered for and Reytna was roped into)
	+ They go to tell a lady (Adabra) who lives on the outskirts in a windmill to get to town where it’s safer from dragon attacks
* They show up and the woman in the windmill is getting attacked by a manticore
	+ Torhd & Reytna attack it from a distance, while Jeis and Banks run around to try and get inside the building
	+ Jeis distracts it with an illusion while she’s able to get in through a window. She discovers that the woman is harboring a 13yo orc kid (Korgu) and refuses to leave him.
	+ They eventually convince them to sneak out the back while the manticore is distracted. Jeis and Reytna were trapped in the tower and were both knocked down by the manticore
	+ Before attacking Jeis, the manticore taunts Jeis about being dead “like her friend,” and says that they serve some of the same people.
	+ After escorting the two refugees out of the line of fire, he runs back to keep Jeis and Reytna alive. Meanwhile, Torhd is tanking
	+ Torhd eventually chops the manticore’s head off, falling back in exhaustion and taking a moment to enjoy the peace
* Jeis almost dies, and as she’s coming back, she hears the voice of her brother Jamril, telling her its not her time
* Adabra & Banks heal up both Jeis and Reytna. The party tries to convince her to come to Phandolin where it’s safer.
	+ She refuses, saying that it’s not safe for Korgu. The kid is more convinced, and tells Banks that he’ll “work on her”
	+ Banks reassures him that there will always be people who will help, and that he’s got a friend in Banks. He tells Korgu about Liam’s Inn, telling him that he will be safe there, if they ever decide to go.

 *+Level 2 + health potion + one Manticore spike +Manticore head*

## Session 3: Dead Trees and Flying Things

* The party goes to pick up their gold from the crazy mayor
* They recoup back in at Liam’s tavern, Liam is concerned that Jeis almost died
* They eat, drink, and plan their next day. They decide to go visit the gnomes
* There’s a halfling man in the tavern: Riras Tallfellow
	+ He wants to join them, he’s a warlock, he watched his whole family die
	+ Jeis convinced him to pay “Adventuring Crew membership dues” (1g) and also convinced her she’s 23
	+ He wants to investigate a tree
	+ Jeis cons her way into getting several glasses of Ale
* Jeis gets a hangover and goes to Liam, who makes her a cup of tea and takes care of her and lets her sleep in his bed
* As Jeis falls asleep, she has strange dreams
	+ She meets with Rhyxali (w/ a crow)
	+ Take Torhd, go through a patch of nightshade cut east (cut to the right) go to the dead tree
* Jeis and Torhd go off to the tree in the morning, finding an ornate black box with a broach ( a jagged sword stabbing a shield). Torhd is freaked out, but Jeis puts it on
* Banks, Reytna, and Riras go investigate the tree he was looking for
	+ Find a sick tree, touched by something magical, not of this plane
	+ Find a campsite a couple weeks old, who was only inhabited by one person
	+ They find a used potion bottle, of necrotic magic that was used on the tree
	+ Magic comes from the 9th plane (Rhyxali’s plain, the Pale Night and her children)
	+ Reytna identifies the 9th plane players and that Reiris is lying about his patron.
	+ Banks keeps the potion for further study
	+ Banks tries to heal the tree, buying it a little time
* A peryton comes out of the woods, and attacks the group.
	+ They take care of it, Reytna taking an antler as a trophy
	+ Reytna does not trust Reiris
* They regroup at the Inn
	+ Jeis shows Banks the broach, which he knows is a symbol of Bhaal - ancient dead demonic lord. Once living, killed a god and made his way into the underworld and took a plane for himself. About a century ago, he was killed by a human
	+ Liam knows the box is a box of remembrance
	+ Jeis convinces Torhd to take the box & broach
	+ Jeis also convinces Reiris to leave for the day, and catches a glimpse of a shield emblem similar to that of Bhaal's symbol
	+ Tordh is a fan of Reiris
	+ Liam is having a bad day, and Banks tries to get Liam to confide in him and makes him a cup of tea
	+ He and Liam plays cards, and Liam has a cry about his relationship issues. We also learn that Torhd is a sympathy crier.
	+ Phihana and Brolselle enter the Inn
		- Banks learned their party was attacked by bandits on their way to Neverwinter, Rune was knocked unconscious, Finn carried Rune away, and both Finn and Rune were captured. The bandits went to Leilon.
		- Banks extends an invitation for Phihanna to join them, and to convince the party to make a detour

+ Level 3 for Banks & Reytna + peryton horn bit + memory box + cool broach + some gold

## Session 4: Decisions & Departures

* Jeis had crow dreams, and also void. A memory: Jamril and Jeis are walking through a busy market square, on a job. Jamril spies a merchant on the end, and asks Jeis to keep herself busy. She begs to help, and he eventually asks her to make a distraction.
* Retina dreams of laying under her tree, when a speckled stag emerges. He admits that she was right. Reytna begs him to explain what she needs to do. He explains that dark forces pose a threat to the world. One of the leaders of these forces are trying to come back, and his essence is poisoning the lifeforce of the forest. She asks if the trees are the only sign, and he explains that there is more than what we know yet. He says watch for the defences and watch for the aggrovators, for they will lead us to the path of His return.” (He/She pronouns????) Reytna realizes that the stag may be the goddess Artemis, as the stag is a symbol of the goddess.
* The next morning, there is a crow keeping watch over the Inn. Liam has left before anyone gets up. Banks makes a pot of tea, and helps Greta in the kitchen. She also doesn’t know where Liam has gone.
* Jeis realizes Liam is gone, checks his room, and finds his greataxe is gone and his dresser is emptied and the bed was not used. In the nightstand, she finds a key and a note that says “Will Be Back.” He looks like he will be gone for a while. Jeis pockets the key and the note, and yells at Banks because she suspects he knows something.
* Phianna explains to the group what happened to her party. She asks the party to accompany her to Leilon to rescue Finn and Rune.
* They go visit Barthen’s Provisions, in which the group stocks up. Jeis manages to steal a gold spyglass (worth 1000 gold).
* The crew makes their way to Leilon. It’s a pretty run down city, mostly a fishing town. It has some shady sorts running around. Phianah explains that Leilon has a history with some unsavory sorts from the Theives’ Guild (which Jeis takes offense to). She does know, however, that Jamril did not like coming here.
* They first visit the Tymora shine (The goddess of luck and fortune in Feyrune. Worshiped by those who take great risks. She is known to bless those who do not like Bashaba. The clergy are duty bound to aid the daring by providing healing and magic items. Tymora treats her followers well. Halflings believe she was a halfling who tricked big folk into worshiping her too. It is highly smiled upon to give a coin to the offering bucket. “A copper to the lady returns 10 fold in gold.” There is a special section of clergy to Fellows of Fate who dedicate themselves to countering Bashaba and their assassins, aka the Blackfingers, as well as their allies.)
* Banks gives a silver, Jeis gives a copper,
* Phianna embraces a person (Rose) at the front of the temple. They have obviously known each other for a long time and are obviously very close. They lead the group into a storage room. Torhd has a flashback where he remembers a beautiful glass sword. Underneath that, there is a monk whose guts are spilling out as they pray in an unknown language. They have a medallion with the face of a coin, the symbol of Tymora. Rose has the same medallion around their neck. The walls are etched with halfling scribblings, which seem like instructions.
* Phianna introduces Rose, the leader of the congregation.  Phianna asks that they give info on
* Rune was a high profile member of the Theives’ Guild in Neverwinter. She knew the movements of all the merchants. Pulled a Robin Hood and helped the poor, stole from the rich. There was an attack on the main guild hall. Rune was not there that day, and some speculated that she betrayed the guild. Phianna realized that Rune did not belong there.
* The attack was about a year and a half ago. Towards the end, Jamril started going to Neverwinter less and less, and began being more protective of Jeis. He never mentioned why, but he probably didn’t know about the raid. He had mentioned the name rune. He got Rune into the guild, because her connections were through her parents, who were prominent government officials in Neverwinter. Jeis was always a bit jealous of Rune since Jamril let her into the guild but not her.
* Rose recommends going to Crusty’s, a tavern in Leilon, owned by Crusty. In the corner of the tavern, there is a rough gang of people having ale, bantering with a bard.  Phianna seems to know one of the guys, and she signs, as he is deaf. She introduces him as Porter, a “friend” of hers. His group is known to aid adventurers in the area. Crusty introduces himself, who knows  Phianna. She asks if he knows the group of bandits.
* Tahron (a tiefling, most likely a daughter of Bashaba), Porter’s second in command. She tells them that they ran a group of bandits out of town, they’d been messing with the shrine, and they may know the location where they may have taken Rune. They head out, guided by Tahron.
* It is night, and they begin their search through the woods. After a bit, they come to a small house surrounded by bandits (6 in total).
	+ They find a letter to a “Hawk” asking that they pledge their loyalty to the fallen god. They know they are trying to capture Rune RedDawn, and offer to arrange it. They sent an associate to their camp. It’s signed by an “A”
	+ On the table, there are daggers stuck into a map. One at the crossroads where Rune was captured, marked with a necklace that Phianna confirms was Rune’s. The other is SE at Kheldell, with a diamond ring on top, and a third as Rassalantar (above Waterdeep, further south) with nothing on it. Jeis takes the diamond ring.
	+ Behind a trapped wardrobe, they find a prisoner’s chamber. There, they find Rune, beaten and bloodied, as well as another prisoner (who introduces herself as Azariah Gilrona). Banks and Phianna go to help stabilize Rune. Reytna finds Bank’s journal, which is missing a page, and a vial of the black poison. Jeis takes some demonic scrolls from the desk.
	+ Rune wakes up and starts crying to Phianna, saying that she didn’t tell anyone. They killed Hemm, and it’s her fault. She says that Finn got away.
	+ Azariah is a scholar on the infernal. She uses it to warn high priests and gov officials of threats to the mortal plain. She has been researching a cult that has sprung up in the Sword Coast called the Reverent. The cult is growing quickly through a multi-tiered system. She was on her way to Waterdeep to warn some officials, but she was ambushed by bandits. She’s heard of some hard trees being poisoned
		- Torhd has a memory of standing in front of a heart tree, and he drives his glass blade into the ground in frustration. He remembers that Chauntea is a goddess of agriculture.
	+ She believes that these heart trees have been poisoned by demonic essence by the group. These trees give life to the forest. Demonic essence will pervert and change life as it is known, and the tree will be fully destroyed. Anything that comes from the tree will be poisoned as well.
* They make their way back upstairs, only to alert the bandits around the house. Rune immediately sneaks out to the woods, undetected. This makes Jeis jealous, and she uses her anger to one-shot two bandits.
	+ Rune is impressed by Jeis’ skill & badassery
	+ She tries to introduce herself to Jeis, who brushes her off, and makes her more angry. Jeis mentions that Jamril has talked about her before. Rune asks how Jamril is, and Jeis storms off, scorching the earth beneath her and Rune in her fury at not only her jealousy, but the reminder of Jamril.
* Rhyxali is known for being more interested in the mortal plane than that of her own. She’s not super aggressive. She was Pale Night’s favorite child until she started getting reclusive. Her bond with Rhyxali faded as well.
	+ Rhyxali gets her power from our world, meaning she’s more connected to the mortal realm than the demon realm. She gets her power of feeding off of secrets.
	+ She hasn’t taken a warlock for several centuries. They died while completing their contract, and Rhyxali is said to have felt a maternal connection to them.
* Reytna asks Azariah about the heart trees. She opens up about being Hexblood, realizing she is connected to the dying heart tree. Azariah informs her that if the poison reaches the roots, Reytna may either die or become possessed by the demonic energy. She recommends figuring out which demon this all centers around, and following up with the Revenant.
	+ The Reverent is built on a tier system. There are the congregation, who are unknowingly contributing. The higher-ups are calling the shots to silence others. The elders and leaders are elusive and we know nothing about
	+ She recommends finding the Golden Sun in Neverwinter
* Banks goes over to Rune to check in on her after getting his journal back. He gives her back the silver she left to forgive her
* Before Jeis goes to bed, a crow comes to visit her with a note attached. It seems to act human. The crow has a note from Liam.
	+ He acknowledges that he isn’t okay, and that it’s okay for Jeis to not be okay. He opens up about certain regrets that he has to Jeis. He says that there’s something he has to do something important for himself and for others. He tells his whole life story in a note (It was very emotional and a wonderful performance, but it’s a lot of info and it’s on the wiki). Eventually revealing that he’s going to kill his father.
	+ He reveals that the key he left was for the basement, in which his final will and testament
	+ She writes a letter back that she refuses for him to die, and she’ll meet him back home

## Session 5: The Hunt Begins

* Torhd and Tar'an go on a morning patrol around Leilon during which Torhd mistakes Tar'an's intentions as romantic. He tries to outpace her in an attempt to avoid walking together and ends up tripping her. He helps her up and they patrol the shore
	+ Tar'an reveals she knows Torhd is a Reborn and that she is the daughter of Beshaba while Torhd admits he has no memories of his past. She tells him, "If you want to remember, or if you want to forget, either is the right choice as long as it’s for the right reasons." He asks her not to tell anyone else about what he is.
* Azahriah makes a lemon sage tea with 1/2 cup of lemon juice and 16 sage leaves. Banks is mortified but the tea is delicious. He decides to record this in his journal, only to realize that a page is missing. It was for a blessed remedy involving ginkgo, ginseng, milkthistle, & muglock. He hastily recreates the missing page.
* Reytna also drinks the tea and suggests the plan to split the party with some heading to the last marked location on the map (Rassalantar) and the rest heading back to Phandalin. Reytna, Porter, Tar'an, and Phihana head down the road to Rassalantar on horseback.
	+ On the road to Rassalantar they encounter a poor, old appearing man begging for coins. Reytna gets an uneasy vibe from the man which prevents them from giving him money.
* At the Rassalantar tavern, the crowd is rambunctious and rowdy with the owner, Jagger, up on the bar. Reytna jumps up on the bar with him to ask for information but Jagger ID's them as a cop and the bar turns against them. Phihandra manages to convince him that they are not cops.
	+ In the back room, Jagger explains that tons of people come through Rassalantar so finding anyone suspicious would prove difficult however there is a religious organization that has set up a meeting house nearby. He describes a man with a hawk as well as a man with one eye wearing a wolf hat frequenting that house.
* The others stop back at Stonehill Inn to find Brolselle and Torbjorn
	+ There is a new dude, who is friends with Liam. Greta reached out when Liam left so he could help. They apparently were friends a couple years ago but lost touch recently
	+ Torbjorn is being sus about what happened to Banks
	+ It is a rainy, stormy night

* Jeis' crow comes back with two letters
	+ The first is a reply from Liam. He says the other is for Banks and that he hopes to make it home.
	+ The second letter she opens (even though it’s not for her). She can’t read it, but it has a pink, blue, and yellow flower.

* At night, she sneaks down into the basement where she finds a broken obsidian axe, two sets of damaged orc armor, and a desk with paperwork for the Inn and Liam’s will. In it, he leaves everything to Jeis. She hides the will in a secret compartment in the desk. There is also a chest that she finds a red scarf and two sending stones.

* On her way back, she sees Rune coming back in

* She sends a letter to Liam with one of the stones letting him know that they’re headed to neverwinter

* In the middle of the night, Banks and Torhd hear a scream and the sound of a blade. They rush downstairs to find Brolselle and Torbjorn. Torbjorn has attacked her. She swings back and his skin looks grey and magical before turning back to human.
	+ Banks realizes that’s a doppelganger. It’s a 50/50 whether Torbjorn is alive or dead
	+ They kill the doppelganger, only for Brolselle to ask Banks to revive him so they can ask him for info.
	+ He does, and they question the doppelganger through questionable means
		- Torhd feels uneasy and goes to stop Brolselle from choking the ganger. When he grabs her arm he has a flashback of being on a battlefield surrounded by corpses in robes. Torhd is standing above a monk in robes wearing the symbol of Tamora. The prisoner spits at Torhd and Torhd kills them.
		- This flashback is more visceral than the last two and causes a physical and emotional reaction from Torhd, who then steps away from the scene.
	+ Rune notices the change in Torhd and steps in to threaten the doppelganger, which impresses Jeis.
	+ The Ganger asks to be freed in exchange for information but Torhd only promises a swift death. The Ganger says that there is a cave to the southwest that Torbjorn is in, however they are unsure if Torbjorn is dead or alive.
	+ He says he’s working alone, no one sent him and that it was just an opportunity.
	+ Rune compliments Jeis, who is surprised. Jeis compliments her too heading back to the inn
	+ They go off to find Torbjorn. Jeis and Torhd take the lead however Torhd is still shaken from his flashback and doesn't converse with Jeis as usual.
		- They find Torbjorn almost dead in the cave. Banks revives him and heals him up a bit before taking him back to the Inn.
	+ The follow morning, Torhd is heading out for his morning walk when he hears a whistling noise coming from his bag. The only thing in his bag is the Box of Remembrance and when he picks it up, it stops whistling.

## Session 6: Birds and Pray

* Cut back to the bandit group, which is happening at the same time as the Ganger fight in Phandalin. Jagger is leading Phihana, Reytna, Porter, and Tar’an toward the bandits

* They come upon a cabin in the woods, a sign out front says “Welcome Loved Ones.” It’s filled with cis white men (they all look like Brendan Fraser, that’s canon).
* Phihana and Reytna approach and they say that they’re looking for Hawk and a Wolf Hat Guy. They all look nervous and scared. The leader denies knowing anything. The crew convinces them by saying that Hawk had told them to meet them here. They say that The Hawk isn’t here and won’t be back.
* They ask for pamphlets and they receive (Google Doc Ref)
* They start singing, lead by Mangey, who pulls a lute right out of his ass
* They specifically try to ask the youngest, who looks the most unsure if he had anything to add. He leads them inside, away from the group. He says that his name is Levi, a recent member who came from Waterdeep. He says that a group of bandits (lead by Hawk) came in and brought the Wolf Guy (who is silent) and they took Koji, another missionary. He says that Koji got in trouble by telling people about their rituals (which you aren’t supposed to do). He started meeting with some officials and started warning them about the Golden Sun. When asked what there was to warn about, they get cut off
* The others come in, and Phihana and Reytna pretend to be praying. He offers to set them up with a canteen and some food to go.
* Levi warns them to be careful, letting them know that Hawk and their crew left a day and a half ago, but they didn’t take the path.
* They check where Levi had gestured in the woods, where they find a bit of their direction but not their path.

* They track the bandits back to the cabin where they found Rune and Azariah. Inside, they see Hawk.
	+ Tar’an tries to draw the bandits attention away from the building by making a noise. Phihana is able to sneak in with the distraction, making it into the basement. Reytna is noticed by a bandit outside after making it in through the window, alerting the others.
	+ Phihana is able to free the prisoner, Koji during battle. He hides until the fighting is over
	+ They take out most of the bandits, but Hawk is going strong. She is an exceptional archer, and is very strong.
	+ Lots of one-liners get thrown around
	+ They defeat all of the bandits, including the infamous Hawk. As she dies, her hawk dissipates.
	+ Reytna takes her bow, the String of Singsong, and a letter
* Afterward, they go to talk to the prisoner they saved, who immediately starts screaming. The prisoner is Koji.
	+ He throws up at the bodies, and Phihana tries to calm him down.
	+ He reveals all the secrets about the Golden Sun:
		- He expresses discomfort and hesitancy about the rituals. He says that some of the higher-ups get upset if people reveal what happens "behind closed doors." One of the rituals he describes is that every 3 days, there is a new cycle. On the 3rd day, they welcome in the New Sun, with a focus on rebirth and happiness. On the 6th day, they focus on the midday, with a focus on the journey. On the 9th day, they focus on the setting sun and the darkness to come. This has a focus on welcoming the darkness and rebirth to come. On the 10th day, they embrace darkness and nightfall. On the dawn of a new day, they celebrate the beginning of the new cycle. He says that Neverwinter is their "holy city." Which is where the Inquisitors work out of. There are two branches of inquisitor: The Sword, who go out and take care of those who get in the way. And the Shield, who protect those who manipulate.
	+ Reytna and Phihana decide to take him back to Leilon to stay with Rose. They sleep at Crusty’s.
* In the morning back at Stonehill, Azariah informs Banks that she will be staying at the inn rather than accompanying them to Neverwinter.
	+ Jeis gives Banks the letter, which she expresses that she thinks Liam is hitting on him
		- He sees the flowers, and remembers a memory:
			* Several years ago (~5) when he was first getting to know Liam when he got back from his rough past. They were having a conversation, Liam brought him some flowers, which had lavender. The lavender stood for “I loathe you.” Banks laughs, explaining the meaning behind the flowers. He taught him a little flower language.
			* I am eternally grateful, Love, Liam
				+ Primrose is a powerful ingredient for cure wounds potions
				+ Blue salvia - I think of you
				+ Daffodil - ????
			* There are so many mixed signals, he is not sure if Liam is flirting with him
		- Jeis gives him the nightshade she got by Torhd’s tree as well.
* As they’re walking toward Neverwinter, Torhd hears the same whistling from the box.
	+ But he covers it up so no one else can hear it
* As they walk further, Banks hears an old man asking for help. Torhd also hears it, and goes to help
	+ It’s an old man begging for coin. He asks them for coin, which Torhd gives him. Torhd, like the boy scout he is, helps the man to the path.
	+ When he gets back to the path, Torbjorn gives him a coin and Torhd gives him another.
* They make it to Neverwinter, entering through Beggar’s Nest.
	+ For it to be a big city, it’s seen some rough years. A past war has left it a bit distraught. The previous king was killed, and now there is a lord. Heirs to the throne are sought after and killed. Many were not fond of the king due to his infidelity, some even say that he has half-orc children.
	+ Rune is very confident before she realizes she needs to flip her hood up.
	+ They make it to the Shining Serpent Inn. Torbjorn suggests meeting with their friend Khlo.
	+ They notice a lot of people in white robes with yellow sashes, handing out pamphlets. They go up to Torhd specifically and ask if they can share their “love”
		- Torhd thinks he’s a prostitute, and is now suspicious of the color yellow (until proven otherwise)
		- Banks has heard of the Golden Sun, and knows they’re a highly aggressive hippy-ish religious group
		- Banks tries to explain, but Torhd thinks he’s just too naive
		- Jeis is kind of interested in the Golden Sun, and Rune pulls her away and tells Banks to get a hold of his kid
	+ The Shining Serpent seems a bit shadier than Liams and is a lot busier.
		- As they’re going in, Jeis’ crow lands on her shoulder, and everyone is just kinda okay with that. It’s relatively on brand
* At the inn, Rune bangs on the bar and a Khlo walks out, the owner of the inn. Brolselle asks that Khlo watches the party.
	+ She doesn’t quite trust the group, and she is a hard person to gain the trust of.
	+ Banks pays for both Rune and Jeis
	+ Rune goes back into the kitchen and makes herself a plate and invites Jeis.
	+ The two kids start a food fight, and start laughing like crazy. Rune makes an imitation of Banks and they have the most fun either have had in a long time. Dad 2 (Banks) is upset.
* Brolselle and Torbjorn decide to stay at their own place, leaving Rune with the party.
	+ Torhd tries to meditate with his box, initially struggling with the noise in the tavern. However, she remembers the shield on the pamphlets the religious zealots were handing out. He realizes that it’s the same as the broach inside the box.
	+ He gets a memory: He disassociates and watches himself fight against hordes of people dressed in lighter clothing, killing people dressed in the uniform of the Ashen militia. The Ashen are the militia he was a part of leading up to him waking up. He sees himself saluting people with the same broach. He watches himself kill a lot of orcs. One of the final scenes of battle is him killing his last enemy before falling down on his knees and laying back into the grass. He then sees himself being given the broach by hooded figures, and getting it pinned onto him.
	+ At this, Thorhd leaves the inn, leaving the broach and box behind. She picks up the broach and decides to toss it back in the box, she gets to see the same memories. She immediately turns and vomits all over the floor.
	+ Banks asks Khlo to make some ginger tea for her tummy
	+ Jeis convinces Rune to also look at the box, who also throws up. They then go to ask Torhd what was up.
	+ As they go back inside, Banks goes to move the box and also sees everything & throws up. They all have a cup of ginger tea
	+ The kids go run off to the Docks to have fun. Meanwhile, Torhd opens up to Banks about having no memory before they met.
* At the docks, Jeis remembers that Liam grew up at the Neverwinter Docks
	+ She shoots off a message to Liam, “The Neverwinter Docks seems pretty cool. Seems like my kinda place.” and he responds, recommending they go to Barley’s Tavern. And they do!
		- It’s rowdy, there’s a fight going on, and Jeis and Rune are loving it.
		- Jeis goes to make eye contact with the bartender and asks for a round of ale, then Jeis makes a bet. If she can win a poker game, drinks for everyone.
		- She gets a royal flush and wipes the floor with them. As Banks and Torhd enter, Jeis is yelling on the table to the entire tavern’s cheering.
		- Banks also notices a mysterious traveler wearing a wolf hat keeping a close eye on the kids
		- Barley, the bartender is impressed, and offers Jeis a job running the tables in the future
		- The kids have had 3 drinks at this point, and they are both hammered. Jeis and Rune ask to get piggyback rides back to the Shining Serpent.
		- Jeis passes out on the way back, and Banks has to carry her. He notices that her bird is very human-like. It laughs, it understands common, and likes human food. It’s also very protective of her. He gets the feeling that this crow used to be human, and it was someone who used to be close to Jeis.
		- Torhd tucks Rune in, who gets all sad drunk, and Banks tucks Jeis in for the night.

## Session 7: The Oni One for Me

* Torhd is up early in the morning, he walks to the graveyard and sees a woman crying. He sees a recent grave (within the week), Winross Baum-something
	+ He also sees someone in the pauper’s section digging a grave, Umeric
	+ He decides to help him dig the grave, which he’s really good at. He asks if he’s familiar with digging graves
	+ He asks if the grave is his, and it is. He’s dying and didn’t want to burden his family
	+ Torhd decides to tell him that he has forgotten his past life, and is worried he might have been a bad person.
	+ The guy says that he can’t afford the medical help (like 25 gold), so Torhd gives him 2 gold to help
	+ Torhd confesses that he’s worried that he’s killed a lot of people, and he doesn’t know if that it was for a good reason.
	+ The man says that maybe it’s an opportunity to be a good person from now on
	+ Umeric invites him to have dinner with his family, but Torhd declines
	+ Instead he just accompanies him home to meet his family, his wife Petra and his kids
	+ They tell Torhd that he is welcome anytime and that his family is greatful
* Banks goes for a walk outside the city walls, around the forest surrounding Neverwinter. He feels much more at home in the woods.
	+ As he walks,  he finds a small stream and decides to pray to Eldath, setting up a makeshift altar
	+ At the end, he feels a presence next to him. Which startles him into the water.
	+ The lady pats the mat next to her, offering for him to sit next to him. She takes pity on him and dries his clothes
	+ He
	+ She says that water gives meaning to life. Not only can it form to its container, but it can also carve its own path. Sometimes it is good for us to learn from water. It’s easy to want to stay the same, but change can sometimes be good. She says to follow his heart to a new path
	+ He asks how to know if his
* While Jeis is having breakfast, she feels the communication stone grow warm and glow
	+ She hears “Just checking in. May not hear from me for a while. Will contact you when it’s safe
	+ She responds “Dammit old man. I better hear from you, or I’ll come kill you myself. Just made it to neverwinter. The docks were fun last night.”
	+ Her crow comes down, starts eating her breakfast. She says that once he starts bringing in money he can
	+ She goes to wake Rune up, who seems dead. She is barely breathing.
	+ She goes to get Torhd, and they have no idea how to help her.
	+ At Khloe’s suggestion, they decide to take her to the Arcanist’s Quarter for a doctor.
	+ As they’re walking, Jeis notices some crates that say RedDawn shipping
	+ They make it to Clairemont’s Cleric Clinic, which they sit at for 2 hours without help. Jeis makes a scene at having paid 3 gold and gotten no help. She tries to steal the money back on her way out, but fails. The doctor throws her out and calls for a guard before she charms him to let her go.
* Banks finally finds them, he knows that Rune has been marked by an Oni. He can put together that she has the burn mark
	+ He knows that a detox tea might wake her up, but the oni will still be able to hunt her down. He realizes that they all are in danger of getting marked.
	+ Banks starts making the detox tea
* Jeis gets pulled into a dinner with Rhyxali
	+ She tells her she has horrible timing, that Rune is dying
	+ Tells her about the horrible cleric. The Tymora people too.
	+ She tells her about Rune, which she is very interested in.
	+ She also mentions that Liam left, which Rhyxali is very pissed about
	+ She gives her a little hand carved wooden man, which she says to give to Torhd in the memory box.
	+ Jeis takes a bunch of food with her
* Some random dude comes in, and Torhd gets him to leave.
* Banks finishes the tea and wakes Rune up.
	+ She says the old man was killing her over and over in her dreams
* Jeis tells Rune about the shitty doctor, which she suggests they go break into later that night. She also mentions a “surprise” for later.
* Reytna tells everyone about the cult & shows them the pamphlet
	+ Banks recognizes the symbol as the same symbol that Torhd had on his broach
	+ Rune and Jeis tease him and ask if he is in a cult
* They wait for the Oni, turning away several people as they try to enter the inn
	+ The kids fall asleep, but wake up unharmed when Banks freaks out and shakes them awake
* The Oni finally shows up, appearing from upstairs, not outside. He walks in and insults Rune’s father
	+ She immediately attacks
	+ During the fight, Banks asks Eldath for protection, and she sends spectral guardians to his aid, who attack the Oni
* After everyone is healed up, Khloe asks them all to gtfo and not come back
* So they head to the Tymora temple in Neverwinter, where Phihana allows them to stay.
* Phihana tries to take Rune back, as she is still part of the rehabilitation program, but Rune and Jeis convince Banks to agree to watch her.
* As Banks is falling asleep, he hears Eldath, “Like water, we all must change.”

## Session 8: 3 & 1/2 Dads

* Banks decides to wander the temple in the morning & finds a letter in the temple w/ the post script
	+ “May the Ashen fall from your fruition as the harps play”
* Rune wakes Jeis up and asks her to poke around the temple
	+ They check out the store room, and they find a lever contraption with the collection bucket. The 2 copper to the lady returns 10 fold in gold. They each put 10 gold in, and a trap door opens
	+ In the basement, there is a giant tapestry of a golden harp. In the center of the room is a chest. & a wall of weapons
		- Jeis and Rune take black ebony daggers etched with gold & the hilt has a harp
		- THE REHABILITATION  GROUP IS CALLED THE SACRED HARP REHABILITATION GROUP
		- Jeis also takes a cloak of protection
		- As they leave, their gold is taken by the mechanism
* Torhd asks that they go visit Umeric
	+ Umeric’s leg looks worse and his eyes are bloodshot
	+ Banks takes a look, and the poison has set in to the bone, and the poison is in his blood
	+ Banks explains that he can buy them time, but the amputation would cost 2 gold
	+ Reytna gives them 4 gold, and Banks gives them 1 gold and casts cure wounds
* They then go to take the man to the doctor
	+ Rune is super nervous, but flashes some ID and gets them through the gate. She immediately wants to leave and is super awkward
	+ They make it to the doctor, and Yorick, the doctor, offers to let Banks shadow the surgery
* Jeis asks Rune which store to sell her spyglass, and there is one retailer, RedDawn Trading Co.
	+ Jeis confronts Rune about why she’s being weird. She reveals that she is related to the RedDawn company. Her mother is the owner, however, she has not seen her for 2 years, since before she was arrested.
	+ Jeis manages to sell the spyglass and a couple other small items
* Banks has acquired the skill: Amputation
	+ Umeric is going to make a full recovery, and his family
* They decide to have dinner at Barley’s
	+ Jeis runs the tables and Rune serves tables
	+ It’s a good night
* The next morning, they decide to visit the home church of the Golden Sun
	+ As they approach, there is a group of Golden Sun members doing yoga
	+ They think they are new members, and the leader gives them “juice” to drink
	+ It gives Torhd a flashback to when he had drank the communion before, but he flashes back to a ritual in the past where he had blood
	+ They are invited in, and the leader explains that they can talk to a prophet or a Sun Guide. They must be given a task from the prophet to prove their worth
	+ Jeis casts unseen servant to procure a letter from Reiras Talfellow to the church, letting them know he would come check in on the 5th day. The letter is sealed with a shield emblem.
	+ She also sends it to follow the leader down into a basement in which a shriveled old hooded man is sitting hunched over a crystal ball with blue flame. He informs the leader to send the party to the craigs to retrieve “him.”
	+ The leader says to retrieve a music box
* It takes the party 2 days to get there, each day Jeis sends a message to Liam to let them know where they’re going
	+ Invisible, Rune sneaks past the guards to the orc camp inside, coming back 45 minutes later with the music box
	+ She describes a banner with starts and a hand, the same banner in Liam’s basement
	+ It’s the Bad Hand Band!
* They open the music box, water juts out of it shooting Torhd and Jeis back. A giant creature pops out
	+ It’s a water marid, Vessel, who was imprisoned for 45 years.
	+ Banks asks if he knew his mother, Farah, and he in fact does, saying that she was a wonderful woman.
	+ Banks is his son. Vessle is his dad. Dad in a box. What will he do
	+ Vessel granted Farah’s wish to repair the old cottage for her family.
	+ Banks invites him to come visit the house sometime
	+ To contact Vessel, go to a river and speak his name
	+ They have him seal the box back so it looks like it was never opened
* They come back and give the box back to the dude
	+ He says that they have to wait until the 9th day ceremony
	+ Torhd goes to follow him and he tells him that he’s already a member of the crew
		- He shows him the broach, and immediately the man reacts
	+ He takes him back & reveals all the details of the plan he knows
	+ He says he has never seen anyone with as high of a rank as him
	+ Khol - leader at the Neverwinter church
	+ Bega’an Talgrith - high level member of the Golden Sun
	+ The city is in their back pockets, Father RedDawn has been really helpful
* The prophet knew Torhd’s old life and his old name
	+ He says that Torhd raised a second in command that was willing to kill him
	+ He calls him Criton
	+ Jeis goes to pick up Torhd and ushers them out of the building

## Session 9: Crossroads of the Fallen

* As the crew is leaving, ushered out by Jeis, they are met with The Wolf Guy (Lex) in the sanctuary
	+ Lex and like 8 dudes are ready to rumble. They all immediately know they’re fucked. Like, so fucked.
	+ They fight their way out of the temple, and run as fast as they can out of the city of Neverwinter.
	+ {Exit, pursued by wolf}
	+ Over the next week, the group is hunted by Lex and his crew
	+ They try to get back to Phandalin, but they are attacked.
	+ They zigzag their way throw Neverwinter Wood and eventually, exhausted, make their way toward the city of Triboar
* Jeis attempts to use the sending stones to reach Liam every day, to no answer. The day they stop to camp, Jeis can tell someone else (not Liam) is holding the stone
* Reytna’s illness is getting worse and has progressed
* Rune was hit by an arrow on the way out of the temple, and Banks has been helping her dress her wounds and taking care of her as she heals
* Torhd begins to get headaches, in which images of his past life are overlaid over real life
	+ He begins to realize that Ishku betrayed him, but he doesn’t know why
	+ He’s kinda losing it
* They set up a makeshift camp, Jeis and Rune sharing a bedroll
	+ Banks dresses Rune’s wounds before bed, sharing a hug and a sweet moment
		- While she is getting dressed, they notice she has a long scar under her ribcage which she was poisoned
	+ She’s gonna heal up fine,
* Jeis and Rune share a bedroll and have a long serious conversation
	+ Jeis asks Rune if anyone is gonna be coming after them from Rune’s family
	+ Her father is a councilman for Lord Dragalt, and has great sway. He’s willing to take any price to stay in that position
	+ She hated it so much that she became part of the Theives Guild
	+ Her mom is the leader of the RedDawn Trading Co. She’s not sure if she’s okay with her being a thief or if she knew.
	+ She had insider info about Neverwinter and therefore
	+ At one point, someone she was close to decided to use that, and it got her killed and revived. Then she got arrested.
		- The person she was close to found the lead, and they cut through Neverwinter forrest in an unfamiliar path. They stopped, and her friend turned on her, cutting her open with a dagger and poisoning her. She thinks she was the one to spread the rumour that Rune sold out the guild.
		- She was pulled back and revived, she woke up in the woods.
	+ Jeis expresses how glad she is that Rune is okay
* In the middle of the night, Artemis appears to Reytna in deer form
	+ She plops down next to Reytna, exhausted
	+ She asks how Reytna is doing, which is not...great considering she is dying.
	+ Artemis says she’s also dying
	+ Reytna says that they believe Torhd is the reason for all of this, and wonders why they can’t just kill him
	+ Artemis says that Torhd is very different from who he was, and would be beneficial to keep around
	+ She also calls Rhyxali her friend, and they have been corresponding
	+ She says tomorrow around noon, she needs Reytna to grab Jeis, and be touching everyone else. She wants her to bring everyone to lunch.
	+ Rhyxali is expecting them, but she tells her not to tell Jeis
* Banks has a nightmare
	+ It starts with him tending his plants, but then flames sprout from the ground like eternal hellfire. His heart races as the crops turn to ash and his house is engulfed in flames. He can feel the flames on his skin as if he was on fire. He falls to his knees.
	+ In the fire, he begins to hear the shouts and cries of loved ones, this father wailing for him, Jeis crying for help, Rune crying for her father then realizing that Banks isn’t her father, and Liam
	+ Through the flames, he sees the shadow of Liam. He’s sobbing, asking where Banks was and if he had forgotten about him. His form crumbles to ashes.
	+ The heat keeps pushing him down until he can no longer move
	+ Until the flames lose their intensity, and they become see through and he can make out the water again. By the waters, he sees his mother. She gives the softest smile, and she whispers the word Sunshine as she looks at her son. She says “My sunshine boy, how you have grown. You are so loved. Keep following your river my darling.” She turns back to the water and begins humming “You Are My Sunshine.”
	+ Banks wakes up crying. He goes to check on the kids and notices Rune was crying in her sleep. Jeis is cuddled up to Rune. Banks takes one of his blankets and puts it over the kids
* Jeis is the last one awake, and Rune wakes up and she is frozen in fear because Jeis has cuddled up to her in the middle of the night. Banks comes to wake Jeis up, and she doesn’t realize they had been cuddling.
	+ Retina, Rune, and Banks go foraging in the morning (Banks +3 meals, Retina + a couple days rations for everyone)
	+ Jeis asks Torhd how he’s doing
		- She reveals that she saw all that went down at the temple
		- She also says that she has her demon mom, and she tells him that Rhyxali is really interested. She also shows him the little wooden man.
* Torhd takes it and has another memory. He’s so out of it, he can’t tell the difference between real life and the memory
	+ He’s standing 3rd person looking in on himself as a child. He’s holding the toy and crying. In front of him is a massacred village. The streets are running with blood and the buildings are on fire.
	+ As he’s standing there, he’s scooped up by a figure in black robes.
	+ Jump forward in time, the doll is sitting on a table in a bedroom. He’s a young man. He’s ushered out of the room by another man in a black robe.
	+ He’s taken to a sacrificial ritual. He is made to cut his hand open over an altar. He hears a gravelly voice tell him that he must go to Neverwinter and kill a man named Premal.
	+ Flashes forward again, he’s holding the doll, crying, and blood is running down his arms.
* He tosses the doll to the side, much like in the memory
	+ Jeis and Torhd calms Torhd down so they can talk about things
	+ Jeis tells Torhd about her demon mom and how she’s interested in him
* They eat and go into Triboar
	+ Rune suggests they stay at the Everywyvern Resort, but they don’t let them in without a reservation. Rune asks Jeis to break in later that night anyway
	+ They all drop their stuff off at the inn
	+ Reytna grabs everyone for a “team meeting” and runs to grab Jeis
* Jeis is overwhelmed as they are all pulled into Rhyxali’s chamber
	+ Jeis introduces everyone awkwardly
	+ Reytna passes along Artemis’ regards
	+ Rhyxali is wearing a gown that looks like the river of blood
	+ Everyone makes a plate and takes up a seat at the table
	+ Jeis tells her that they’re being hunted by the Golden Sun
	+ She asks Torhd how he’s doing, and she says he won’t have to worry about memories. She gives him a drink that takes his headaches away.
	+ Banks looks like he’s going to shit himself. Rhyxali gives him a bowl of porridge just like his mom used to make, which calms him down some
* Rhyxali starts in on Torhd
	+ Rhyxali tells everyone that Torhd started the cult and was a follower of Bhaal
	+ Jeis knows that Bhaal was a killing machine and became a demon lord of murder. He decided the underworld wasn’t enough and wanted to take over the material word. A mortal by the name of Syrick, killed him using a glass sword by the name of Godsbane. No one knows what happened to his essence, so no one knows if he’s alive or dead. The glass sword is a physical form of the god Mask.
	+ Torhd ended up acquiring Godsbane as he worked through the ranks under a child of Bhaal’s. An old man who raised Criton (Torhd) and manipulated him into the brutal, evil, malicious killer he became.
	+ Using the sword, Torhd amassed a following and clergy which became the Golden Sun. Only the higher ups knew he was a follower of Bhaal and knew their true plan was to bring Bhaal back. He was able to bring back Bhaal’s essence.
	+ But then Syrick killed him, and his essence was stored in an orb. This orb was taken by the Revenant. The orb can corrupt people. The Revenant’s goal is to bring Bhaal back and to enact revenge on the mortal world.
* Rhyxali tells Reytna that Criton pledged to plunge the world into an era of darkness by bringing back Bhaal. By using the a ritual which included 4 steps:
	+ 1- bring back the essence 2- pervert the innocent (the cult) 3- cut the heart out of the earth (to find and kill the heart tree) 4- He had to kill a god of opposition (which needed the Godsbane)
	+ He killed and took the heart trees
	+ He killed Grumpsch, the head of the orcish gods. He had helped purge the world of Bhaal.
	+ Rhyxali asks if Reytna would like to cure her condition. She says the way to fix it is to combat Bhaal’s essence, which was injected into the trees
	+ She says if they can get a hold of Chauntea or one of her followers. That she can help.
		- Rhyxali says that her and Artemis know each other….very well.
		- Jeis is mortified, and Rhyxali gives her the talk that she’s okay with whoever Jeis chooses to love
		- Jeis says that yes, she’s gay but she doesn’t want to talk about this with Rhyxali.
	+ Rhyxali says that it’s not just the material plane that’s affected. The apocalypse is coming for all planes.
		- She also says that she is trying her hardest to take up the mantle of leader for Hell now that the Pale Night is absent.
		- They don’t know what happened to the Pale Night
		- Rhyxali doesn’t want the destruction of the mortal realm, and so she is trying to work with other gods and goddesses to create a plan.
	+ Torhd asks to stay in hell with Rhyxali because he’s afraid of making things worse. She reassures him that Criton and Torhd are two different people. She says Criton was also good at one time, but he didn’t have good people who cared about him. Rhyxali says that she would like to give young Criton a chance to shine through in this second life. She says that he can do good and make good choices. However, he does have a choice. She says he can stay there if he wishes, but she says she believes that his service is best spent on the material plane, with the people that love him.
	+ Rhyxali’s plan of action
		- Find someone w/ connections to Chauntea
		- Head to Silvery Moon to talk to a friend of hers about Godsbane
			* DO NOT TOUCH THE SWORD (Except Torhd)
	+ Jeis talks to Rhyxali alone afterward:
		- Mask is the god of thievery. She says to ask Rune about her friend that
		- Rhyxali says that she can’t find Liam’s soul. Which means he’s either still alive or someone is keeping his soul in limbo
			* She says the last place she received an offering is at the Rickety Rat Inn in Sundebar.
	+ Jeis sends the crow to find Liam once they get back
* The group decides to leave in the morning, the adults decide to rest but Jeis and Rune go to cause trouble in town
	+ They head to the market. They pickpocket the stalls and just cause general havoc. Around dinner, they sneak into the resort. They take a dip into the springs and eat a damn good meal at the resort. Jeis thanks her for the day, because it reminds her of days she spent with her brother.
	+ Rune is very awkward about the mention of Jamril, saying she didn’t know him well but he was a good dude.
* Before bed, Rune goes to talk to Torhd.
	+ Rune sits down and tells Torhd that he means a lot to her. And she thanks him for being around for her.
* She goes to talk to Banks as well
	+ He asks if she’s okay, and she expresses how much she cares for the group
	+ Banks can tell that Rune is sad, and she genuinely misses having family.
	+ She asks Banks to tuck her in, and he does.
	+ Torhd knocks on the door and comes to keep Rune company bc she was sad
	+ He ends up telling a bedtime story, and talks Banks and Rune to sleep

## Session 10: Crossroads of the Fallen, Part 2

* The inn they’re at has a tavern called Haffle Wouse. Banks gets a haffle...reluctantly.
	+ The Haffle ends up being the best thing Banks has ever tasted and he has a love for haffles
* He also has a talk with Torhd, checking in on how he’s doing. Banks thinks the haffle is delicious.
* Reytna and Banks go to the library to look for info on Bhaal and the Godsbane
	+ After Bhaal was killed by Godsbane, no one knew what happened to his essence. There is speculation the sword was in the water. After his death, he lost much of his following, save for a key few priests who kept the religion alive in order to keep the essence alive. Their goal was to find his essence. They recruited people through extreme measures. There were also several children (Spawn) of Bhaal, most of which were killed or had died. However, there is a possibility of more existing. The last known spawn lived out his days on the Sword Coast turning from Bhaal, and became a martyr against Bhaal. The last groups of Bhaal’s followers were in Neverwinter, Baldur’s Gate, Waterdeep, and a small but persistent following in Silvery Moon.
	+ Godsbane is an artifact or a physical embodiment of the god Mask. An enemy of Bhaal, and took great pleasure in being the reason for his fall. The sword is cursed. Whoever wields it will have the insatiable desire to kill. It begins small with acts of revenge and eventually escalates into an insatiable bloodlust. For the weilder’s mind, they can hear the whispers of Mask from the sword. Their mind becomes so poisoned that the whispers become their own voice in their head. The last wielder was struck down in a moment of bloodlust by an enemy. The book was written recently, and it says that the wielder was an enthusiast of the occult and the infernal deities thought to have been attempting to bring about a new deity or resurrect an old. The curse will stay with the wielder until their death. If the wielder is separated from the sword, their only desire will be to get back to the sword. It is believed that death is the only escape from the curse.
* Jeis wakes up and her crow is back
	+ The crow is squawking and excited. Jeis pulls a map out
	+ The crow points frantically points between Sundebar and the Citadel Felbarr
	+ The crow gets frustrated that Jeis immediately wants to go to Liam, and he flies off and out the window
* Jeis takes the map down to Torhd and explains that they have to leave immediately
	+ She explains that she hasn’t heard from Liam in a week and a half. “This man is the only one who has been there for me in a long time. If I’m going to do shit for anyone, I’d do anything for him.”
	+ The message: “All good here. Where are you? I’m in between Sundebar and the Citadel. Can you come?”
	+ “Fuck you I thought you were dead. I’m on my way to kill you myself you motherfucker.”
* Jeis rounds up the entire crew with deathly seriousness and explains the situation
* It’s a 3 day trip. Banks becomes more and more uneasy the longer they travel. He knows it’s weird that he would have messaged Jeis like that out of nowhere.
	+ That night, Banks reads over the letters that Jeis got. He keeps the flowers one for him, because it’s clear that
	+ He knew Liam was held hostage and was forced to do bad things. He was going to kill his father and Gros made him leave. That’s one of the big reasons he went to therapy bc it would have saved countless lives. He knows one of the biggest battles was at the Citadel where the orcs decapitated the governor and declared his father the leader. Later, reinforcements came but the city is currently in turmoil.  He knows that he probably has friends in the region of the citadel.
* The 2nd day, Jeis tells Liam they’re 2 days out. Liam responds that he’s excited to see her
* They walk up to a sketchy tavern in Sundebar with a fight outside. Banks and Reytna awkwardly go inside, and Jeis surprisingly follows. Rune goes to watch the fight, and invites Jeis to come with her. Jeis tells her to "do whatever the fuck she wants" and that she'll be back later. She blindly and unenthusiastically follows the adults and is overall quiet.
	+ As they leave, they find that Rune has taken over the fighting ring. She is bloodied and bruised, having taken home the winning prize, and is obviously drunk
	+ Jeis brings her back to the group, and takes her to Banks. But she refuses his healing and doesn't want to talk to Jeis
* In the morning, Jeis asks why Liam ignored her. Liam responds that "he had things to do."
* Banks patches up Rune in the morning, and Banks asks if she’s okay and why she wouldn’t let him heal her
	+ She says that she gave punches so she had to live with the ones she took
	+ He says that she’s taken enough punches in her lifetime
	+ She starts crying, and he comforts her. He asks if he’s upset that Jeis didn’t hang out with her. She doens’t deny it, but says she might have over-reacted. He tells her just to talk with Jeis.
* Banks raises the question of what if things go wrong
	+ Reytna is incredibly suspicious of the entire situation, as is Banks
	+ They agree to have 2 of them ("Reytna" and Rune) wait in the woods while 3 of them (Torhd, Banks, and "Jeis") confront Liam
	+ Jeis agrees with Reytna to have Reytna disguise themselves as Jeis
* “Hope to see you today. It’s been too long.” and she replies “Be there soon.”
* They make a camp outside of the location
	+ Rune pulls Jeis aside and reminds her that she is with her until the end, "ride or die", and they hug
	+ They then both awkwardly go off on their own
	+ Reytna and Jeis meet up in the woods to disguise themselves as each other and to confirm their plans
* They arrive at a crossroads, where Liam is sitting against a roadsign, accompanied by a large obsidian battleaxe. Liam is happy to see Jeis, and goes to hug her
	+ She takes a step back in fear, and she asks where Liam has been
	+ He looks up the road and he looks down at his hands, that have blood on them
	+ She asks whose blood it is, and he doesn’t respond. She asks twice, in fact, to no response
	+ “Reytna” (Jeis) and Rune are hiding in the woods. They are crying, much to Rune’s confusion.
	+ Banks and “Jeis” (Reytna), notice movement in the woods, they are being surrounded. The image of Liam flickers.
	+ Torhd reaches and grabs “Liam”, destroying the illusion
	+ Reiras Talfellow steps out of the woods
	+ Out of the woods, the real Jeis hurls a magic missile at Reiras, slowly turning from the image of Reytna to a hurt and distraught Jeis. Acting fast, Rune pulls Jeis back behind a tree, away from the edge of the woods
* Reiras says “Tricky. And to think I was going to play nice and offer you a deal of where to find him and his body.”
* Banks cast Shield of Faith on Reytna, +2 AC
* Jeis is still hidden, so advantage on initiative next turn. Torhd too.

## Session 11: Those That Are Lost

* The fight breaks out
	+ Banks summons spectral guardians to protect his friends, and a spectral weapon. He’s pissed and ready to fight
	+ Reytna senses a dragon around
	+ Everyone kicks ass
	+ More dudes show up, having surrounded the party: a dragonborn cleric, a dragonborn barbarian, and a elf monk
	+ In the middle of the battle, Reiras takes control of Jeis. He says “Your friends killed Liam” and she turns on her friends, attacking Reytna.
	+ Banks notices, and casts hold person to try to stop her, but he fails
	+ After downing everyone, Torhd tackles Reiras. This also makes Jeis snap out of it
* Jeis snaps out of it, and walks up to Reiras with a hand crackling with necrotic energy and demands to know where her dad is
	+ They ungag him, and he says that he would have taken Jeis to his body if she would have cooperated
	+ He chuckles and whistles.
* Over the trees, comes a young white dragon
	+ Jeis’s crow also comes soaring over the trees and begans frantically circling and squawking
* Torhd and Jeis try to intimidate Reiras, threatening to kill him. Torhd squeezes his neck, telling him to answer. He doesn’t, so Jeis plunges a dagger into Reiras’s heart, taking him down, just barely alive.
* As they’re fighting the dragon, Out from the treeline comes Liam, aided by two others. He lets out a warcry and sends a javelin flying into the dragon’s neck
	+ Jeis screams out “Dad!!!!”
* Jeis takes out the dragon by hurling a massive fireball at him, she runs to keep Reiras down, before looking to Liam
* Liam runs up to Jeis and pulls her into a hug. She’s crying and he says it’s good to see her
	+ Crying, she says its good to see him too, before tearing into him about how much of an idiot asshole he is.
	+ She punches him in the shoulder, which kinda hurts
* Banks runs up to Liam, and with a sigh of relief, says that he’s so happy to see him
	+ Liam blushes, and awkwardly says it’s good to see him too.
	+ Banks says that he owes him for watching after Jeis, but Liam says that she probably watched after him too.
* Liam explains that he found some friends along the way, and went to kill his dad. He didn’t want anyone to track them or have access to Jeis, so he left his sending stone in a tree a couple miles out. He apologises to Jeis for leaving without telling her, and not being more communicative. He says that he wishes he would have done it differently
	+ She says she wished that he trusted her, and that she would have helped him
	+ She also says that she’s going to help him from here on out
* They then turn back to threatening Reiras, Jeis taking the dagger out of his chest and holding it against his throat. He’s painfully annoying about the whole thing
	+ They still need the sword for the ritual. Ishku has been confirmed as the high reverent
	+ He says Criton was too worried about bringing back Bhaal, that he didn’t worry about the “people on the ground”
	+ He says he doesn’t care about dying
	+ They gag him again, and talk amongst themselves
* They decide to take Reiras back to camp and for Jeis and Liam to contact Rhyxali

## Session 12: Can Be Found

* Banks and Torhd set up camp. They decide to tie Reiras to a tree
	+ Reytna and Rune go hunting
* Jeis asks Liam
* Aryn elvish woman with Liam
	+ Banks asks how she knows Liam
	+ She says its a long story, but they’ve been friends for a decade or so. She says he was in the area, he helped her out of a bad situation.
	+ Liam’s dad held Aryn hostage, bc her community was attacked in defiance of Tarfu (Liam’s dad)
	+ Liam is the godfather of her children, Erydel & Herine. They stay in Silverymoon with their caretaker Katyr
* They wait for 2 hours while Jeis & Liam set up the ritual
	+ They both write a secret, neither will show the other
	+ They call Rhyxali, who Jeis asks to watch Reiras
		- He’s a warlock of Grizalt,
* The orcish woman is named Shoni, a fighter, she teaches classes at the college in Silvery Moon
* They had Reiras tied to a tree, and told Liam to watch him
	+ The party had a gameplan talk, meanwhile Reiras charmed Liam and escaped
* The party splits up and searches for Reiras for hours with no luck
* They eventually make it back to the crossroads, where the cleric is gone. They find Reiras’s tracks and realize he has flown away
	+ They realize that they’re fucked and aren’t going to find him
* They decide to head back to Silvery Moon, where they stay at the embassy where Aryn’s family is staying
	+ Banks and Liam
	+ Reytna asks Aryn about their poisoned arms
	+ She takes them to the college to get a researcher’s option
	+ Matón - dude at Lady’s College in Silvery Moon
	+ He performs a ritual over Reytna’s hands, and some of the poison recedes, and the aching soothes
	+ He also writes the spell down for Reytna
* Torhd begins to dump his problems onto a bird on a bench (a little robin named Chirpy)
	+ He is canonically allergic to berries
	+ He thinks he would like to fish
	+ The bird asks him to help it move its nest, but he refuses, worried about getting germs on it or accidentally crushing it
	+ The bird shows him its crushed nest
	+ He talks about his mistrust of demons
	+ Torhd doesn’t think he can sing, but the bird tries to convince him to
	+ He asks the bird if he knows where the sword is, but it doesn’t
	+ It brings Torhd a little daisy, and tucks it behind his ear
* Liam takes Banks to go check out the sacred grove, Silverglen.
	+ Liam buys Banks the ingredients for both a healing and poison potion
	+ Banks buys him a bouquet of flowers from a flower shop to give to Liam:
		- Canterbury bells (Blue) - your letter was received; gratitude, or faith and constancy
		- Gardenia (White) - you are lovely; secret love
		- Gladiolus (Purple) - strength, faithfulness, infatuation, purple - charm & mystery
		- Sweet william (Pink) - masculinity, gallantry
	+ Liam then surprises Banks with a trip to a fancy tea shop by the river
		- Bank’s favorite tea is an elderberry tea
		- Banks asks
		- Liam gifts Banks a bag of brittle flower leaves, which grows in high elevations, and is very rare. It must be carefully harvested, as the flowers are spiky. If dried and brewed, they make a very delicious & subtle tea. It helps with focus & relaxation & breathing.
	+ Jeis and Rune go to the college to learn a spell. Gilcreist, a professor there, shows them who leads them to another professor, Griz.
		- Jeis learns how to make a phantom steed
		- They then go to the circus
		- Jeis finds out that it was Rune’s birthday 3 days ago, when she was in the fighting pit
	+ Banks and Rune bond over making potions
		- Rune says that she’s going to be sad when their adventure is over, saying that she’s enjoyed having a family, and a dad
		- Banks offers that she stays with him when it’s all over
	+ As Torhd is lying in his bed, he’s thinking about his convo with the bird, he gets the feeling he’s being watched. As if there is a presence inside the room with him
* Banks knows Reytna is poisoned

## Session 13: Reborn Torhd and the 30 Dwarves

* In the middle of the night, Torhd takes a stroll around the courtyard
	+ He still has the feeling of being watched
	+ He goes up to a clocktower, where the door is locked. He rips the handle off and climbs up the stairs
	+ At the top, it’s dark and shadowy, but he can tell that one of the windows has been opened recently. He gets jumpscared by a rat, who runs away and gets into a staring contest with it.
	+ He decides to follow the rat, where it runs into the sewers. He can hear it having a conversation with another, 2nd rat. They seem excited.
	+ As he stands, he bumps into someone standing behind him. He smacks the shit out of a little old man gnome. He smacked this man’s glasses right off his old face
	+ Torhd apologies and the old man laughs it off. He tells him his name is Artie.
	+ He says its not the first time this has happened. Torhd says that he would have remembered.
	+ He says that he would remember from his old life, but he wouldn’t remember in this one. He says that he’s been watching over Tohrd.
	+ He says he’s been watching over him and means him no harm.
	+ Artie asks if he’s going by Torhd  now. Torhd says no.
	+ Artie asks if he remembers anything from “the lab”
	+ Artie says he hasn’t been back to Silvery Moon since he walked out of the lab
	+ He calls him Criton, and says that they are friends. He says he has inventions to show him, and that they are looking for a leader again
	+ Torhd asks if he is a wizard, but when he says he’s an artificer. Torhd thinks he says “Art Professor” so he is very confused. He says he doesn’t even go to school
	+ He says he’s never seen a scientist
	+ He then thinks he is homeless
	+ Artie confesses that Torhd was dropped on his head while he was being revived
	+ He says he saw Torhd break the table
	+ Artie explains that they are not part of the Reverent
	+ Artie, disheartened by the conversation, says he’d like to continue to watch him from a distance. He says that they’re happy he’s back and part of the prophecy has been fulfilled.
	+ Torhd asks if they know where his sword is. Artie says they’ve been working on an invention that can hone in on the sword’s deity power and help to track it down. He mentions another scientist named Lirzu
	+ He says that they would do anything for Torhd
	+ Torhd thinks that science is fake, because he’s only ever seen magic
	+ Artie gives him a little metal ball that transforms into a little metal bird, to show him science. Torhd is convinced it's just magic. He does want to keep the bird
	+ Artie invites Torhd and his friends to come to the lab one day. Torhd says he never wants him to meet his friends
	+ Torhd agrees to meet tomorrow at dusk. Torhd turns down a hug before heading back to his room
* Banks wakes up and makes a pot of tea
	+ Katyr makes some small talk while the water boils.
	+ She says that Aryn has been reclusive since her husband died 3 years ago in a boating accident around Neverwinter.
	+ He gives her the first cup of tea, and she asks him to keep an eye on the eggs while she takes a minute to herself to enjoy her tea.
	+ Rune comes downstairs and asks Banks to sneak her a forkful of eggs, and he does
	+ Reytna also comes downstairs and makes themselves a cup of tea
	+ They call for breakfast
	+ Rune goes to wake Jeis up. Her door is locked, but Rune picks it.
	+ Jeis goes to get Liam, and he’s not there. She goes through his shit. She finds the flowers that Banks gave him pressed into a journal. She also sees a book on flower language
* Liam comes back with a bouquet of flowers
	+ The flowers mean friendship, love, and peace
	+ Jeis says “What the hell is that gay shit”
* Torhd raises his hand and says he met a guy this morning
	+ He says it was an Art Professor who does science. Who gave him a bird, he says he is part of a group that knew him before he was Torhd. He tells them he asked to meet them at dusk
	+ One of the kids gets excited and shoots food at Jeis. She goes to respond in kind, only to be stopped by Reytna. Rune however, gets a shot in. Liam tries to chide her
* Aryn knows an Artie, a clockmaker on the other side of Silvery Moon, “Archibald.”
* They decide to take a trip to the market before checking out the clockmaker
	+ Jeis sells some shit
	+ Rune asks if she wants to steal back some of the items so she can resell them. She asks Jeis to make a distraction.
	+ Jeis gets a deja vu moment of her time with Jamril. She looks over and sees a cabbage cart. Jeis makes all the cabbages roll down the street toward the river.
	+ Reytna notices that this is a bullshit performance from Jeis.
	+ Rune manages to steal back the manticore spike thanks to Jeis’ distraction
* They leave the market, and head over to a clock shop
	+ Jeis and Rune look for something to steal
		- They find a wristwatch
		- Jeis manages to steal the watch while Rune distracts Reytna
	+ Torhd gets a memory. He feels comforted in the clock shop. As a younger man, about a decade before he died, he remembers looking at this clock. He remembers a friendly gnome walking up and saying he’s proud of that one. Criton harrumphs, but Artie invites him over for dinner, welcoming him to the area. Criton says that he doesn’t accept invitations. Artie says that they just want to wish him well. Then he flashes forward about 6 months before he’s killed. He’s back at the shop looking at the clock. Artie walks up and says he misses him. He says Criton has been distant, and Artie asks if he’s doing okay. Criton is crying. Artie pats him on the back, and he encourages him to let it all out.
	+ Torhd, in real time, starts crying. Liam notices and offers to help, but he gets turned down. He instead drags Banks to go look at some clocks with him
* The lady greets them. She says that Torhd looks familiar, but Torhd says that he’s never been there before. Reytna says they need to speak to Artie.
	+ She goes to get him, and he greets Torhd. Reytna says that they don’t want to meet him at dusk because Liam and Banks have a date. They blush and sputter.
	+ Artie invites them back to his workshop, and Torhd leads. He’s a scatterbrained scientist, and he shows them around the shop. Reytna & Jeis see a secret door.
	+ Reytna asks why Artie wanted to meet. He says he knew Torhd before he died (Liam is just now finding out about this). He says they know him as Criton. He says his wife doesn’t know he’s back alive. He says that they took him under their wing. He says that he was the one that brought him back, and that him and the other followers thought that he was going to be the one to change the world. He asks if he is the group leader. Jeis says that no, Reytna is the group leader.
* He invites them to meet the other followers. He leads them down the secret door into a speakeasy
	+ It’s like a dimly lit jazz club. Whenever Torhd walks through, everyone gasps and begins to whisper that Criton’s back.
	+ Torhd gets another memory. He’s been here before. Again, about 6 months before he died. He’s at the bar, being served by Artie. He says “I know things are gonna turn bad.” And he asks for another drink, and Artie asks him what’s wrong. He says that he’s pretty sure that Reiras and Ishku have a plan, and he’s not sure what to do. Artie asks if they’re his friends, and Torhd says no, he hates them both. However, he says that he started this, and he needs to finish it. Artie insists that he’s out there doing good, and Criton says straight up that he’s killed many people and is actively seeking the destruction of the world. Criton says he thinks he should start a new group of followers. Artie calls him family.
* Artie gets a round of drinks for the table (including Jeis and Rune. Liam tells him only a half order for the kids)
	+ He explains that this is the Followers, and that he let them all know that Criton’s back.
	+ Artie explains that he brought Torhd back from the dead. He found him in a mass grave, revived him, went to get more supplies, and Torhd was gone.
	+ He also says that he had a crystal that could watch Torhd. He’s been watching them from the beginning
	+ Rune notices something, and asks to go to the bathroom. Banks watches her go over to a hooded figure
	+ Banks sneaks over and checks on their conversation. The woman Rune is talking to is a dragonborn. Roughly 60 years old. She questions how out of place she is.
	+ Banks walks up and says that they’re leaving. Rune says that he should meet Torhd’s friend. The woman says that she knew him as Criton and is not his friend. Reytna comes over and joins.
	+ She says her name is Azodai Lirzu. Azodai is the family/clan name. Lirzu is her first name. Azodai is a well-respected clan from the NE region next to the mountains. They were all slaughtered by a band of orcs about 58 years ago, believed to be no survivors. Reytna and Banks offer their condolences.
	+ Banks leads Rune away. And Reytna asks if she’s been following them. She says no, she’s here because she heard Criton was alive. She needed to see it herself. She says that she needs him to stay alive and to fix what he fucked up.
	+ She says that Artie is working on a device, but she imagines its in the hands of someone else being used as a weapon. She said to retrieve it, that we’d be moving toward The High Ice, where Torhd died.
		- Torhd woke up in Silverymoon 20 years ago after dying.
	+ She expresses the want to kill Criton, but Reytna tries to explain that he’s not the same person
	+ She straight up says she’s gonna follow them
	+ Torhd sees Reytna walking back from the dragonborn lady, and he gets an eerily familiar feeling

## Session 14: Can't CBT Your Way Out Of This One

* Jeis is drunk
* Jeis convinces Arty that the new word for laboratory is “Jizz Palace”
	+ Torhd has chronic CTE (Chronic traumatic encephalopathy)
* Jeis,Banks, and Torhd all follow Arty up to the lab
	+ They run into Arty’s wife, who asks if Torhd is Criton. They say he isn’t, and his wife starts crying, saying he looks like “their boy”
	+ The lab is a goddamn mess
	+ In the center, there is a stand in the center of the room holding a glowing, pulsating blue orb. It is surrounded by a silvery metal almost like a moving globe
	+ Jeis, in her drunken state, touches the orb and takes like ⅓ of her damage. Banks banishes her from the lab and send her downstairs with the others
	+ Arty has a sorcerer friend that has a tracking spell on Torhd
	+ Arty says that the orb will be ready to go by tomorrow afternoon
	+ They’ll take the orb with them, which will make a magical clairvoyant path to the sword
* Torhd asks Arty what’s happened in the last 20 years
	+ Banks makes tea while Torhd and Arty have a conversation
	+ After Artie brought him back to life, it took a couple of years to find his sorcerer friend and to be able to watch him. When he did, Torhd was working as a shiphand on a merchant ship. He did that for a few years, and he seemed happy. At first, Artie wasn’t sure that he had lost his memory. He was confused and hurt that Torhd went away. Then he was a librarian for a while, going by the name Yorn. He spent a lot of time reading. The library unfortunately burned down, and he moved on. He spent several years as a travelling monk, going from monastery to monastery. He didn’t even talk. After that, he went back toward the cost to Neverwinter. He was working with a militia, working as a soldier. He was doing that for several years until he met the crew.
	+ Arty isn’t sure if the forgetting is a side effect of coming back, or if he bonked his head one too many times. Or Arty isn’t sure if Torhd just doesn’t want to remember.
* They go back down to the speakeasy, where Liam has taken over serving the bar. Jeis has had 4 more drinks and has been playing beer pong with Rune
	+ They are fucking killing it. Rune is a beast at fantasy beer pong
	+ Banks says that he doesn’t have to tend the bar, but Liam says it makes him happy, so Banks lets him continue until Artie gets back
* A dwarf (Milfhunter) comes through the door, looking like he’s gone through a lot, the very same dwarf who was in Liam’s inn the very first night, who Jeis was swindling in poker
	+ Reytna, Torhd, and Banks all sit down at the dwarf’s table & he barely acknowledges them
	+ He says he’s spent all his money trying to impress the kid’s mom. He nearly died because the kid didn’t know what he was doing, but she went for the rich neighbor.
	+ Banks gets him a drink from Liam, and the dwarf downs it
	+ He says his sister is letting him stay with her and her wife
	+ He was a prostitute for a while to get across the country
	+ Banks wants to get out of this conversation, so Banks asks Liam to get him out of the conversation. He starts helping Liam serve
	+ He says he’s seen a duck plucking the eyes out of a donkey, and an orgy in a field
	+ Reytna also leaves to go back to the bar, but Torhd stays with the man.
	+ Banks convinces Liam that they have to leave
	+ Liam throws both girls over his shoulders and they leave
* Banks takes Rune from Liam, and carries her to bed
	+ Reytna looks for Aryn, who is standing by the river, looking off. Reytna joins them in peaceful silence
	+ Banks takes Rune to bed, and she asks if he’s going to leave her. He says he’s not going to leave unless she wants him too. She says that with her real dad he gets angry. Banks says
* Liam puts Jeis to bed, and Torhd follows. Jeis doesn’t realize he’s there
	+ She asks if he’s going to leave her again, and he says no
	+ He also asks if she’ll watch her drinking, and she says that he’s been listening to Banks too much
	+ She says that she will, and then falls asleep. Liam says that he wants to be a real dad to her, but doesn’t realize she’s asleep.
	+ Torhd tells Liam not to make promises he won’t keep, and then they argue. Torhd tells Liam to get his shit together, and to not leave Jeis again. Liam says that he’s sorry for hurting her or Banks or anyone else, and he says he’s acknowledging the past and trying to make up for it now.
	+ Torhd asks if he’s going to come with them to hunt down the sword and to come back to Neverwinter
	+ This causes Liam to go into a rage, and he starts to rip trees out of the ground. He tears through the house, ripping the door off its hinges
	+ Banks goes after him, and he hasn’t seen Liam this upset
	+ Banks tries to calm him down, but it doesn’t work, until he threatens to leave. Banks sits down next to Liam in the middle of the road, and gets him to calm down a bit. Liam, without a word, goes back to the Embassy and starts to fix the parts of the garden he destroyed
* Reytna talks to Aryn, asking if she’s seen Liam do this a lot. She says that especially when he was first freed from his father, but he hasn’t done it outside of battle in a long time.
	+ The High Ice is orc territory (Tarfu territory)
	+ Aryn says that its unlikely that Liam will go back with them to complete their quest, unless they go with them
* The crew has dinner, besides Liam and Rune. Liam comes back in the middle of dinner to go fix the door he broke.
* Jeis goes to Rune before bed, and she thanks her for being there for her. She says that she hasn’t been as happy as she has been since her brother died.
* Liam looks for Banks, and Banks asks if he’s okay. He says he hasn’t seen him like that in a long time
	+ Liam explains what happened with Torhd.
	+ Liam explains that he is confused and hurt because he has people saying he’s wrong for leaving and wrong for staying
	+ Banks says that he should follow his gut, and that he shouldn’t feel bad for what he believes is right
* Liam goes to Torhd to apologize for what he said, as he thinks he should apologize for what he said and not what he’s done
	+ He apologizes for pointing out Tohrd’s insecurities and for his harsh words
	+ Torhd says it’s fine, and that “It’s like it never happened”
	+ Torhd does not remember the argument
	+ Torhd says that even though Rhyxali got rid of his headaches, his head still is fuzzy. He says that he’s sorry
	+ Liam says that he brought up a lot of good points
	+ Liam offers to go on a silent walk with Torhd, and they go to walk outside

## Session 15: Lex Get Down to Business

* Torhd and Liam come upon a beggar
	+ They both give him one gold piece
	+ Torhd got tingly - that special feeling
	+ They walk back to the house and everyone’s asleep when they get back
* Torhd reads
* Banks gets up and its raining, may be a thunderstorm
	+ Rune is awake and casing the joint
	+ Banks walks up to her and tells her to cut it out
	+ She asks him to teach her about tea
* Banks enraptured almost everyone into a tea seminar
	+ Liam, Rune, Aryn & Katyr are all taking notes
	+ Aryn proposes to Banks that the college may benefit from a professor of herbal medicine
* Reytna asks Banks if he could help with the ritual they got from the college
	+ You stick your hands in the water, keeping it moving while praying to Eldath
		- 10 minute ritual
		- Dathlil (common)
		- Willow bark extract
		- Valerian root
	+ Banks conducts the ritual and heals Reytna somewhat
	+ The rain is coming down harder now
	+ Reytna sees a figure in the rain
* Banks and Reytna go outside in the pouring rain
	+ They investigate the garden, and find footsteps. They are large and in charge. The toes curl up at the end. They keep going to the right, and they go in between the two buildings
	+ They round the corner, and Lex (Wolf Chick) is standing ready to fight
* They fight lex
	+ Reytna alerts those inside by shooting through the window
	+ They have little black vial filled with the Bhaal poison, which they coat their weapons with
	+ The crew has 5 horses
	+ Torhd’s horse is named Blossom, she is light brown with white speckles. Torhd has braided her maine to keep her hair from getting tangled
	+ Bank’s horse is named River. She is a black horse with a very mild manner. Banks was initially scared of horses, but River was so mild mannered that he became more comfortable
	+ Lex set all of their horses free before running off
	+ Blossom was the only horse that stayed because she is very loyal

## Session 16: O Brother Where Art Thou

* The crew decides to go to bed.
* Liam asks jeis to go to bed and offers to make tea
* Rune goes to visit Jeis
	+ They begin reminiscing about Jamril, and the many lovers he had and many windows he broke
	+ Jeis explains how she hated Rune before they met. She was jealous (not that she would ever admit that) about the time she spent with Jamril and him taking her under his wing
	+ Jeis decides to explain to Rune how Jamril died:
		- They were doing a small B&E, nothing they hadn’t done before, but Jeis got caught. The homeowner kept a crossbow under the bed, and was threatening her. Jamril was very protective, so he came out of hiding and went to protect her. They ended up getting into it, Jeis was just begging them to stop so they could get out. They wouldn’t listen, so Jeis grabbed the crossbow and threatened to shoot if they didn’t stop. The guy tried to overpower her, and she reacted and shot at him. Except it didn’t hit him, it hit Jamril. And the arrows were poison-tipped.
		- The dude panicked but it bought them both time to get out. Jeis was panicked over Jamril, and felt horribly guilty. He insisted he was fine, trying to make her feel better, but he was obviously in pain.
		- They got back to their camp, and Jamril was not feeling great, but he wouldn’t let Jeis know. He sung to her, and made jokes, and laughed to distract her (and himself) from his injury. Neither one really knew how bad it was.
		- Jeis: “When we were back there, I was so scared I was going to lose you. I’m so sorry I got you hurt. I’ll do everything I can to pick up the weight and let you rest—OOoo I’ll even score you one of those pork rolls you like from that baker on the south end! I’ll bandage you up and take care of you and-and”

Jamril: “Jay, don’t worry about it. It happens. Certainly wasn’t the first or the last time. You don’t need to do all that for me. \*Painful groan\* ...but maybe we should find something to clean this up in the morning. I don’t think I can tonight.”

Jeis: “What, you wimping out on me?”

Jamril: “Oh man, too soon lol. You fucking shot me, kid, and still. No

mercy, huh.”

Jeis: “...I really am sorry. I was so scared when that arrow hit...You know I

love you, right? And I swear will make it up to you.”

Jamril: “Oh can it you absolute sap! I hate these teenage hormones, you

were way cuter when you were little. None of this emotional shit. And then, I could just throw you when I got annoyed with your BULLSHIT. Now you fight back...kick, bite, shoot me with arrows, you know—”

Jeis: “HEY! Not fair! I apologized.”

* They continued to laugh and bicker. They had a good night. Jamril was gradually in more and more pain though. When they went to bed that night, Jamril tossed and turned, groaning in his sleep. He never woke up the next morning.
* Jeis went to wake him up, but she was immediately concerned, she was never awake before him. She saw black streaks snaking around his arms and legs, and when she lifted his shirt, she saw deep, mottled, oozing black wound where the poison had spread from. He had passed.
* She didn’t get to bury her father, but she wanted to bury Jamril. It took her all day. She found a little grove by their camp, and made him a grave. She stayed in that grove for three days. She didn’t know what to do without her brother by her side. He didn’t have many possessions, so there wasn’t anything to take to remember him by. She decided to take his name. He was the most family she ever had.
* She eventually snuck back to town, needing food before she starved. She went to the local pub, the man who ran it—Liam—was always kind enough to her. He was gruff and reluctant to be a kid’s caretaker, that’s definitely not what he signed up for, but he put up with her antics and didn’t baby her. That’s what Jeis needed. He asked where her brother was, she said on the job. He didn’t question her about it again.

* Rune explains that it wasn’t Jeis’s fault, but she doesn’t believe her. She says that Jamril protected her from the guild because they were corrupt, not because she couldn’t do it. The crow is agreeing and comforting the entire time.
* Rune then decides to visit Torhd, and tell him that she had also died.
	+ He asks her to explain, and she explains that her ex girlfriend stabbed her
	+ She explains that she reached out to Tymora before she died, and then she woke up
	+ Torhd says that she might want to figure out if she owes Tymora for her resurrection, and to stay on her good side
	+ She says that Tymorah maybe just wanted to give him, Banks, and Liam a chance to be poly dads
* Liam eventually brings tea to Jeis, who is still crying. Liam sits with her until she falls asleep and tucks her in.
* In the morning, they realize just how much they’ve fucked up the house. Banks brings up the point that there are people watching them, and that they probably shouldn’t stay in one place for too long. He brings up the point that Liam has loose ends needing to be finished. Insinuating they should go kill his dad. Liam says that after they’ve checked on the machine, they can do that next
* They go to visit Arty, his wife, Grish, greets them in the front and ushers them back. She once again asks Torhd if he had ever visited the shop. He tells her that he was an actor
	+ He has a memory of himself as a child, acting out a very famous play in front of the whole town. And the smiling faces of his parents in the crowd.
* They go back to the lab (Jizz Palace), which Rune asks Banks to explain, which he passes to Liam. Liam does a horrible job at explaining orgies to Rune. Banks cuts him off
* The machine is ready. Magic energy fills the room, and a ghostly energy leads its way out of the room, headed Northeast
	+ They have to grab it with 2 hands to not get electrocuted
* Arty asks for a moment alone with Torhd before they leave
	+ Reytna grabs the orb before they go
	+ He asks if it may be the last time they see one another. Torhd says that it might be
	+ Arty expresses that it was all out of love, and that he cares about him. He says that it feels right, and that Torhd seems like he fits now. And that he wants him to live his life the way he wants to live it. He wishes that Torhd finds his own way in life, which is why he didn’t reach out. He says goodbye to his son. He just wants him to know that he loves him.
	+ Torhd still doesn’t remember Arty, and he just says that he should go
* The party asks Liam if he still wants to kill his dad. He said that it might put others and them in danger, but they insist that they are here to support Liam and what he needs
	+ They travel into the High Forest (Southeast)
	+ As they travel through the woods, Reytna sees Artemis, in deer form, who shakes their head disappointedly
	+ That night, Torhd tries to sneak the orb out of Reytna’s bag

## Session 17: Ready Orc Not

* We pick up at the camp, where Liam is telling the party about the gruesome War Orcs
	+ Banks puts a hand on Liam’s shoulder, Liam pat pats him
	+ Jeis asks what they need to do
		- He says they need to kill Tarfu, and one of them would then become the leader. They could then disband it from the inside
	+ They could go in stealthily so they could find Tarfu 1-1
	+ He says the best time for them to go in is at dusk or dawn. There’ll be less people, but even with a skeleton crew, they’ll have ~56 people in camp
	+ The camp is in a rough part of the plains, difficult terrain to travel
	+ Liam checks on Jeis, to ask if she’s feeling okay. She turns it back on him, and he admits that he’s scared
		- He also says there is a hand in his basement. This is questionable
* Banks brings Liam to the river, about a mile away from camp
	+ He tells Liam not to look to much into it, but he’s about to meet his family
	+ Banks calls out to Vessel, who tells them he visited Bank’s house, and tended the garden around his mother’s grave
	+ Liam looks nervous to meet Banks’ father
	+ Vessel teases Banks, calling Liam his boyfriend. Liam also teases Banks, and Banks is flustered and embarrassed. He just gets through the request quickly.
	+ He asks Vessel if he would like to get some justice for his imprisonment
	+ He agrees to come to their aid, giving Banks a magic sand dollar, that when they break it, he will be summoned
* That night, Reytna has a dream
	+ they are stalking through the forest, tracking their hunt
	+ Before they shoot their prey, it just collapses. It wails into the forest
	+ Reytna smells a foul smelly smell
	+ The deer they were previously hunting has morphed into the silver dappled deer that Artemis usually takes form. There is a gaping hole in its side, where golden blood is draining out. The deer is rasping and bloody
	+ They pet the deer to comfort it. Artemis lifts her eyes to look at Reytna, “Be careful of the Blade”
	+ Artemis says that they are the ones who did this to her
	+ Reytna catches a blue/purple glow coming from the other side of the pasture. They sneak toward it, and the brightness expands and explodes. Reytna is shot back, feeling like something has shot them. As they hit the ground, they wake up. It’s about 3am
* Jeis has a dream too
	+ - * They were doing a small B&E, nothing they hadn’t done before, but Jeis got caught. The homeowner kept a crossbow under the bed, and was threatening her. Jamril was very protective, so he came out of hiding and went to protect her. They ended up getting into it, Jeis was just begging them to stop so they could get out. They wouldn’t listen, so Jeis grabbed the crossbow and threatened to shoot if they didn’t stop. The guy tried to overpower her, and she reacted and shot at him. Except it didn’t hit him, it hit Jamril. And the arrows were poison-tipped.
			* The dude panicked but it bought them both time to get out. Jeis was panicked over Jamril, and felt horribly guilty. He insisted he was fine, trying to make her feel better, but he was obviously in pain.
			* They got back to their camp, and Jamril was not feeling great, but he wouldn’t let Jeis know. He sung to her, and made jokes, and laughed to distract her (and himself) from his injury. Neither one really knew how bad it was.
			* They continued to laugh and bicker. They had a good night. Jamril was gradually in more and more pain though. When they went to bed that night, Jamril tossed and turned, groaning in his sleep. He never woke up the next morning.
			* Jeis went to wake him up, but she was immediately concerned, she was never awake before him. She saw black streaks snaking around his arms and legs, and when she lifted his shirt, she saw deep, mottled, oozing black wound where the poison had spread from. He had passed.
			* She didn’t get to bury her father, but she wanted to bury Jamril. It took her all day. She found a little grove by their camp, and made him a grave. She stayed in that grove for three days. She didn’t know what to do without her brother by her side. He didn’t have many possessions, so there wasn’t anything to take to remember him by. She decided to take his name. He was the most family she ever had.
	+ Instead of waking up to the body, like in the memory, the bed is empty. Nothing but a bloody arrow
	+ He is sitting outside by the fire, carving a stick.
	+ She tells him that he’s buried in that field. Under a big tree at the edge of the clearing. She tells him that it took her days to dig the grave, days to start digging. She says “This is my hell. This camp. That grave.”
	+ He just makes fun of her, ribbing her and joking around. She was not having it.
	+ He tells her that he’s proud of her, and that she has family. She says she doesn’t deserve his pride until she can bring him back.
	+ He says he IS proud of her, and is exasperated. He tells her to LOOK.
	+ She notices a horde of crows swarming around them, and a crow tattoo on his hand. And he tugs at her hair, like the crow does.
	+ She wakes up, the crow on her chest. She reaches up and tugs at a feather by his temple, and he tugs her hair back.
	+ She sits up and screams “You motherfucker!!”
* Torhd has a flashback:
	+ It was during his time with Arty, and another guy, Bibble
	+ Bibble is a frog man who can only say “Bibble”
	+ He is a fan of flies, Arty cooks them both their respective dinners
* Jeis is still bickering with Jamril. They bite and flick at each other until the crow flies off to Blossom
	+ Jamril then flies over to Torhd and checks in with him. He says not to mess with Blossom
	+ Jamril says that him and Blossom are buds
	+ Torhd says that Reytna can speak to animals
* Jamril hops over to Reytna, who casts Speak to Animals
	+ He is a total fuckboy and tries so, so hard to flirt with Reytna. They are unbothered
	+ He asks Reytna to tell Jeis to ask Rhyxali for the Speak to Animals spell
	+ He also asks her to speak to Rhyxali in the morning for backup
* Jeis asks Rhyxali how long Jamril has been a crow
	+ She said that she’s trying to get him a body
	+ She also bestows the Speak to Animal spell to Jeis. She inscribes it into her jacket, so that whenever she’s wearing it she can talk to Jamril. It takes concentration (a spell slot) when during combat
	+ She also gives Jeis a candle that will summon her
* Jeis asks the party if everyone knew that Jamril was a crow, they basically say yes
* They head to the orc camp that day
	+ They arrive at the rocky camp, on a hilly rock face
	+ Jamril cases the joint from above, and gives a rundown of what the camp looks like, and the party plots their entrance

## Session 18: Resolved Daddy Issues

* The group stakes out the place and makes a plan of action, deciding to wait until night to infiltrate the camp
* Liam and Banks chat
	+ Banks says that he believes in him, and he is there behind him no matter what
	+ He asks Liam if this is the closure he needs, and although Liam admits that he has dreamt of killing his father for a long time, he knows that this won't fix him. This is why he’s working on himself, and finding his own closure. However, the fact that this will keep his father from ever hurting anyone again. No one will ever be forced to do the things Liam had to live through.
	+ Liam brings up if he dies, and Banks insists that he won’t let him. He says that he is with him every step of the way, and he refuses to choose between Liam and another friend. He says that they’re family, and he’s coming back with everyone.
	+ Liam nervously admits that he really appreciate’s Banks, and all he’s done for him and his friendship. Banks grabs the man and just kisses him. He smugly says he “appreciates” him too. They make out like gross dads.
* The crew scales the cliff, and leaves Banks at the bottom on the pegasus
	+ He feels that he’s being watched
	+ The party sees Reiras, Lex, and their cleric, Vitale, atop the rock spire the crew was once standing. They’ve been followed
* The party, sans Banks, backs Liam as he enters the tent
	+ He stands against his father, Tarfu, a large orc man with a boney hand welded together with metal spindles. He greets him as Lurzol, his orcish name.
	+ Liam says that he wants to challenge him for leadership
* They walk into the clearing in the middle of the camp
	+ Tarfu addresses the orcs, who have circled around them. Telling them that Liam is a coward who fled their ways. Now has the audacity to challenge him for leadership
	+ Meanwhile, Banks is attacked by Reiras, Lex, and Vitale
	+ Banks flies up on the pegasus to the top to warn the others
	+ Liam and Tarfu go head to head, slashing at one another mercilessly. Tarfu’s sword whip slashes through Liam’s chest, wraps around his arm and slicks the skin right off his hand, to match his fathers
	+ With one final lofty swing, he takes down his father
	+ Banks and Jeis run forward and embrace Liam in celebration. Banks heals him, and holds him as he cries in relief
* Most of the orcs kneel in respect to their new leader, but some stand in rebellion
	+ One of them says, “You’ll never be our leader. You’ll always be just a bastard son.” He riles up some of the other defectors, and is ready to fight. Liam then turns to the team, and says “Well, it’s time for some backup.” Jeis smiles, responding “I thought you’d never ask”
* Reiras takes this moment to join the fight
	+ Liam, in a rage, attacks Reiras, still reeling from the fight
	+ Reiras attacks Liam back, knocking him out.
	+ In retaliation, Retina knocks Reiras out
	+ Banks revives Liam, and pulls him back, struggling to keep him conscious as the fight rages on
	+ Jeis summons Rhyxali who deletes some of the orcs
	+ Crying, Torhd straddles Reiras’ unconscious body, stabbing him frantically and repeatedly, until he’s beyond dead
	+ The fight rages on for ages, fighting the remaining orcs who defy Liam’s leadership
* As the battle finally comes to an end, Jeis and Liam embrace in a hug, Banks picks up the fallen members
	+ She raises his hand in victory, announcing him the new leader
* He makes a speech, telling the orcs that they can band together to put an end to the violence that previously ruled them
	+ No one further defies him.
	+ The orcs continue their patrols, at Liam’s command, their new leader
* Liam goes to lay down in the leader’s tent
	+ Reytna goes to check in on Liam
	+ She tells him to maybe not put his skinned hand on the floor
* Banks and Rune drag Tarfu’s body to a tent
	+ She asks him if when all this is over, they can rest
	+ He says that he wants to go home to his garden, and tells Rune that he will take her home and teach her after it’s all over
* Lex and the cleric are gone, after the fighting dies down
* Liam comes out of the tent and invites Banks to sit with him
	+ He asks if he can do anything about his degloved hand
	+ Banks says that he’ll heal with a pretty sick scar
	+ Liam says he might get some tattoos over it
	+ He asks what happens next
	+ Banks says that “next” can happen tomorrow, for tonight, they rest.

## Session 19: Orcish Delight

* Jeis wants to know more about Tarfu, so her and Jeis go to investigate his body.
	+ Jeis searches his pockets and armour, and she sees that he has a separate plate of elven armor tucked between his orcish armor. Rune says it is inscribed with an elvish prayer of protection.
	+ They then go join Torhd and the other orcs by the fire, who is still covered in blood
	+ Jeis goes to talk to one of the big guy orcs, who is gnawing on a roasted leg of a mystery animal
		- She asks where he got the grub and he offers her a leg. She takes a massive chomp out of it, and finds out that it’s pork
		- He says he’s a part of the hunting party. Jeis says that sounds like fun
		- She teaches him slang like fucking metal, badass, and
		- Graman, the orc, explains that Liam was one of the main generals before he ran away
		- He says that Tarfu would torture anyone who tried to get away, like Liam. He decidedly had bad vibes
		- He also said that some people would not support Liam, and that he would gather support for him around the camp
* Torhd has his sword, and he pokes the puddle of goo that used to be Reiris. He is not convinced that he’s dead.
	+ Jeis comes over and tries to calm Torhd down, who is stabbing the goo of Reiris’s body
	+ He had seen Reiris’ face laughing in the fire, and his body turned to black poison
	+ Jeis, convinced that Torhd is hallucinating due to grief, decides to light the goo aflame. When she does, wild magic comes out and lashes at her and Torhd
	+ For a brief moment, she’s convinced Torhd is right, but Reytna comes over and explains that it’s something that happens to warlocks sometimes when they die
	+ Everyone tries to calm Torhd down. Banks can hear him yelling and comes out of the tent and talks him down. He gets him to breathe and take a step away
	+ He asks Torhd if he knew Reiris when he was alive, and he confirms
	+ Banks tucks him in with a blanket, and leaves Torhd to process in a tent by himself
* He returns to the group, surrounding Reiris’ goo. Jeis says that they should bottle the poison for later. Rune
* Banks goes back to check on Liam
	+ He asks if he needs anything, and he asks to make tea. He makes the tea that Liam got him in Silvery Moon
	+ He explains what has happened this morning,
* Liam finally goes out to greet his soldiers, and mingles and speaks to his men. That night, they have a group meeting to decide the plan.
* They decide to go after the sword, but that Liam can’t leave the army yet. He must stay with them to build trust. He agrees that he can go as far as the northern camp, where they must meet the other orc camp.
	+ Banks pulls him aside for a conversation, asking how long he plans to stay with the orcs
	+ He says that he plans on changing the way the orcs operate and lead them into a new democratic era
	+ He also asks if Banks would stay with him while he reforms the orcs, because he doesn’t want to be apart for too long. Banks agrees, saying that he’s with Liam for as long as he needs him to be
	+ Liam mentions that he saw Gruumsh in his sleep, who damned him from orc heaven for killing his father. Apparently, Tarfu was on a murder mission from Gruumsch to kill all non-orcs, and Liam ruined that. Liam remarks that he’ll need a new religion, and Banks offers Eldath, though the rest of the orcs may not agree
* The next morning, the crew heads north toward the orc camp, and when they arrive, they are greeted by a leader who looks suspiciously like Liam and calls him “brother”
	+ The northern camp welcomes Liam as their new leader

## Session 20: Ice 'Em

* The crew looks to Liam asks for quarters
	+ Lon - Liam’s half-brother
	+ Lon welcomes Liam and the party, after explaining that they are to be highly regarded and are given quarters in the center of the camp
		- He assesses the party. He isn’t impressed by Jeis. He is suspicious that they may have fought Torhd before. He says that could not be bc every orc he’s fought he left dead. Everyone raises their weapons, ready to attack
		- Banks tries to de-escalate, and it fails. Liam has his weapon raised and ready to go. He pushes Banks and tries to push Torhd back, but Torhd doesnt budge.
		- Liam tells Lon to back the fuck up because he deserves to be here. He’s seen some shit. This makes Lon back down and begrudgingly welcomes the party. He clasps Liam’s arm with daggers in his eyes
* When they’re being escorted to the tents, Jeis talks up the orc escorting them to their tents, asking if he likes pig meat (Graman translates this into human meat) and he is very excited about it
	+ Jeis asks if he wants to go hunting (his name is Burz), and he says yes. Everyone yells and is very excited
* They are escorted and watched in the tent. Jeis and Rune discuss sneaking in on Liam and Lon’s conversation, much to Reytna’s disappointment. They try to talk them into joining, but instead they go to get Banks.
* Banks is in the other tent, working on his journal, when the orc guard begins looking over his shoulder. He offers to teach him (whose name is Dubok) about the plant he’s working on (St. Johns Wort) . Dubok is excited to learn and says he’s always wanted to learn. He devotes himself to his new teacher, Banks. He says he will kill for him.
* Reytna comes to get Banks and tells him that Rune and Jeis want to sneak into the main tent to overhear Liam and Lon’s convo. They bring Banks to the other tent only to find Jeis alone, making horrible excuses. Rune is already gone into the main tent.
* Banks send messages to both Liam and Rune. He tells Liam that Rune is there, he has already seen. He tells Banks not to get involved. He tells Rune that he is disappointed and to not get seen.
* The hunting party goes out, Reytna brings back a lot of food. Jeis does not, and in fact gets frustrated and chars a boar. They are gone for 3 hours.
* When they return, Liam and Lon are still in the tent
	+ Reytna asks if they will join for dinner, where they eat the pig they hunted. They say that Lon and Liam will probably be meeting for quite a while longer
* When Banks returns to Dubok, he has been writing for 7 hours straight. He’s crying and forcing himself to write more. Banks tells him frantically to stop, and asks what he’s doing. He says he’s been following his teachers orders. Banks explains that he can take breaks
* That night, Jeis realizes that Jamril has been nowhere to be seen. She shouts for him, but to no answer. In response, Retina throws their glove at her, but Jeis notices how badly the poison has covered their hand. She confronts Reytna on when they were going to tell the rest of the party. She berrates them that they need to share with the party so that they can help, or she threatens to chop the hand clean off
* Banks is waiting outside the tent, watching the main tent when Torhd comes barrelling past, swinging his sword wildly and stabbing the ground, as if tackling someone
	+ He runs over and tries to calm Torhd down, who is insistent that he saw and is chasing Reiras. Banks decides to look with him, and he is afraid of the implications of whether Reiras may be still alive or not, convinced by Torhd’s conviction
* Before going to bed, Banks sees Rune sneaking out of the tent. He speeds up to her and puts a strong arm around her shoulder, immediately chiding her for sneaking in there by herself and not talking to him. She is upset that he doesn’t trust her. He tries to explain that she shouldn’t have to do things alone, especially dangerous things, but it comes out as just calling her a child. She is furious, and tells him that he isn’t her dad, and that she wants to go back to Phihana. They do not talk, and things are incredibly tense. Everyone goes to bed.
* In the morning, Liam and Lon go on a ceremonial hunting trip. After a long night of politics and deliberation, they emerge from the tent. Liam makes his rounds to everyone in the party
	+ He goes to Jeis first, who is confused and warns Liam about the party’s interpersonal distress of the night. She tells him about her hunting trip and warns him of the fight between Banks and Rune.
	+ He goes to Banks next, who is a distraught mess. He wants to know if Liam is okay, and the state of affairs. He reassures him that he has done some damage control, and that he can smooth things over, given they do not stay for much longer. He asks Banks if he’s okay, and he’s not. He tells Liam about the fight with Rune, about the possibility of Reiras still being alive, and his fear of leaving Liam again. He begins crying, and Liam takes him by the hands, grounding him and tells him that things will be okay, and that he’s being too hard on himself. He assures him that things with Rune will pan out, that they just need to talk. Banks thanks him and tells him not to die because he’ll miss him. Liam kisses him before sending him on his way.
	+ He then goes to see Torhd, who is still bleeding from his Reiras outburst. Liam tells him that given the signal, him and his army won’t be far behind. They also both agree that Blossom is the best horse, and they realize that Jamril has been hanging out with Blossom the whole time.
	+ **He then goes to Reytna, who he certainly had a conversation with that I can’t remember…**
		- Reytna talks to Liam about the poison situation
		- He suggests that it is demon related
		- He gives her his Ryxali pendant for good luck
* The party then heads toward the high ice, led by the locator orb, stopping at Ascore to get potions, armor, and warm cloaks
* When they arrive in the High Ice, they see a glowing sword lodged in ice at the top of a 100ft cliff. At the top, a body, ready to pull the sword out, frozen solid. And at the bottom, a crumpled body, fallen from a great height. These two bodies greet them as the party approaches Godsbane.

## Session 21: Till Death Do Us Part

* They investigate the body at the bottom, a scrawny young soldier. He has two separate stab wounds, one shallow slash across his chest, but another one in his abdomen that appears healed. It is apparent by the squish that he fell from the top of the cliff and died on impact. Banks and Reytna see a small emblem in the ground. Jeis detects no magic, and they pick up the broach. It is a shield broach with a slash mark from the top to bottom. None of them has seen this symbol before.
	+ Reytna searches his pockets and finds a small bottle of ink, a little sliver of paper that was ripped out of a journal that says “The Power” repeated over and over and at the bottom it says “She is speaking to me.”
	+ On his hands, there is still ink stained into his palm. On one hand, there is ink underneath his fingernails, the other hand has skin under
* The cliff is 90 ft tall. Jeis and Rune fly up on Jeis’ pegasus. At the top, they find another body, frozen on his knees, grasping the sword. Behind him is a journal.
* Back behind the body, about 30 yards back is a giant hole in the ice going down
* Jeis continues to ferry the party up the cliff.
	+ In between people, Reytna and Rune have a bit of a conversation
	+ Reytna asks Rune if they plan on going back with Phihana. She says that yeah, she wants to go do her own thing. Reytna casually mentions that it’s not bad to want things to be easy for yourself
	+ And Rune insists that she’s fine and that she was fine living on the streets in Neverwinter
	+ Reytna says that she’s throwing this away for a petty argument. Reytna says they don’t hate her either.
	+ At that, Rune realizes that she’s fucking up. Reytna says that she should talk to Banks because he looks like a sad puppy
* The party gets to the top of the cliff, and investigates the journal next to the body.
	+ https://drive.google.com/file/d/1O4WRujqNrF4RR65M0s3i20-QeSpvWSs4/view
	+ It holds the story of two brothers, Evir and Surin who sought the sword and became followers of Criton. One touched the sword, affected by the curse. One brother was forced to kill the other.
	+ Banks says a prayer over the two brothers, crying gently
* Torhd feels a warm sensation, hearing the voice of the sword enticing him. He feels a great desire to grab the sw and rd.
	+ The sword used to call him Torhd, even when he went by Criton
		- \*Canon: Torhd writes his name on the tags of all his clothes/armor
	+ He begins to reach toward the sword, enticing him deeply. Banks and Reytna see this, and begin to stop him, but Torhd grabs Godsbane and the voice goes quiet. Everything is silent.
		- Jeis and Banks ask if he’s okay, and he says he feels great. In fact, never better.
		- Everyone is wary of this
* The ground begins to rumble aggressively. Out of the hole, 30 feet away, a massive remorhaz bursts from the ground, screaming
	+ They can be found in cold environments, but they burrow with fire. If you attack within 5 feet of it, fire damage. Resistant against ice and fire
	+ It immediately takes a big ol chomp out of Banks, and the party breaks out into an intense battle.
	+ As they are fighting, the ground begins rumbling again. They realize there are more baby wyrms. Jeis summons an elemental that follows the wyrms underground
	+ Torhd gets swallowed by the Big Wyrm, and he struggles to slice his way out
	+ The elemental follows the Big Wyrm down the burrow and kills it, extracting Torhd from its belly
* After they defeat the wyrm’s, they travel back to Ascore and look for an inn. They find a ratty inn to spend the night
	+ Reytna asks the bartender if they’ve seen any shady characters ie: The Golden Sun, the cleric, a dragonborn. Some of which had come through a couple years ago
* Rune goes off for a walk, and Banks follows, catching up with her. He apologizes for taking the decision away from her, and says that she doesn’t have to forgive him. He just wants her to know that he’s there for her if she wants, and he respects her decision regardless
	+ She accepts his apology, and apologizes herself. She says that he is her dad, and how both of her real parents didn’t want her. He tells her that he may not be her blood but he chooses her as family every day. And they hug.
	+ Rune also comments how clumsy Banks is, and how disappointed she is. He tells her how he used to fall and get hurt all the time as a kid, and so his mom used to show him how to patch himself up.
	+ She tries to teach him how to ground himself to not fall, but she just pushes him over
* Jeis has a conversation with Jamril
	+ She asks if he’l keep an eye on Torhd, because she doesnt trust that he’s okay
	+ He also may be flirting with Blossom
* Torhd takes a walk where the sword tries to convince him to take control
* That night, the sword sings of heroes, one sword stands out. They are enamoured by the sword. Asking if they could be something together, don’t you want to take control? Don’t you want to be a hero?
	+ Jeis and Reytna, they are called to touch the sword, they are called by the power. They now have a desire to touch the sword.
* In the morning, Torhd suggests that they go to Neverwinter. Banks suggests that they get all the resources they can, and contact all the people at their disposal: Liam’s Band, Phihana’s army, and even the theives’ guild
	+ Torhd says they don't need anyone else because they have the sword
	+ Banks is immediately concerned by this, as Torhd keeps going on to talk about the power of the sword and how he could do it alone
	+ Banks decides that Torhd is heavily affected by the sword and shouldn’t be near it
	+ He goes upstairs to try and take the sword from Torhd’s room, only to be followed by literally everyone. Torhd stops him in the doorway and tells Banks that he’s too inexperienced and stupid to understand the power this sword has.
	+ Banks asks everyone if they heard the sword in their dreams last night. Everyone but Rune confirms. He says that they can carry it in a cart or in a pack, that no one has to touch it.
	+ In the end, he agrees to go to Neverwinter, and they plan to stop in SilveryMoon.
	+ He stops Reytna, and asks if they agree. They said that they can go to SilveryMoon and try to buy some time there. And that they should keep Liam updated on the way.
* The party departs for Silvery Moon

## Session 22: Gotta Hand it to Ya, That Was Killer

* The party sets off for Ascore, camping out along the way
* The first night, Jeis uses an unseen servant to steal the sword away from Torhd. Unfortunately, Rune sees this happen.
* The next morning, Torhd realizes that the sword is gone, and frantically starts tearing the place apart looking for it. Jeis realized that the sword is gone and is instead in a tree
	+ Everybody starts accusing everyone else. Torhd, Jeis, and Rune all make eye contact. It’s the spiderman meme
	+ Jeis insists for a long time that she did not personally take the sword and did not put it in a tree, but eventually admits to trying to steal the sword.
	+ Banks takes the opportunity to talk to everyone about sword safety, and that they should ward themselves against the sword’s magic
	+ Reytna suggests that they all take turns carrying it
* While on the road, they discover blood on the trail, and two bodies that have been drug off to the side.
	+ It seems like two poor travelers were attacked and left for dead
	+ Banks considers reviving them, but is convinced that it’s best to leave them in peace.
	+ Him, Rune, and Reytna dig them graves, and lay them to rest
* The next day, they camp outside of SilveryMoon
	+ That night, Jeis pesters Rune to go get up to some shit in town
	+ They find a run-down tavern in which they find two men having a bar fight and a man looking on
	+ Jeis asks the man to bet drinks on the winner
	+ He explains that the two men are from two feuding families, in which they were on two sides of the war.
	+ There’s a scrawny guy and a big guy. Jeis bets on the “little guy” and he wins
	+ The bartender lets Rune and Jeis drink on the house, eventually revealing that the big guy was his brother
	+ Reytna notices Torhd getting up in the middle of the night
* The next day, they get to SilveryMoon to find a giant pillar of smoke coming from the Market district
	+ It’s Arty’s clock shop. It’s still smoking and there are magic users trying to put the flames out
	+ Arty and his wife died in the flames. It was supposedly arson
	+ Aryn is apparently a whole ass ambassador ????
* It’s been 2 weeks (20 days) since we have been to Aryn’s. When the party arrives, Aryn is directing a construction crew
	+ They update Aryn on the Liam situation, on the party’s situation, and their want to get in touch with Chauntea
	+ They set their stuff in their rooms and then head into town
	+ They take
* They go to Tymorah’s temple fist
	+ There they find Rose, who they first met in Leilon
	+ They tell her that they need to message Phihana to meet them in Phandalin.
	+ They ask if they know of a way to contact Chauntea, and they do
	+ They tell them to meet in the Sacred Grove at dawn, and to not come followed
* The party goes shopping
* Rune tries to steal shit and gets caught and yelled at, meanwhile Jeis steals a scroll of Mental Prison
* As they return to the embassy, they overhear a conversation discussing a string of murders and then they keep going
* That night, Jeis and Rune go to the undercity to pursue Rune’s connections in the Thieves guild
	+ They enter a shady tavern, when a shady lady comes to sit with them
	+ She pours a glass of wine and interrogates the two of them
	+ She asks Jeis’ name, and she gives the name Hawken. The lady knew Jamril, and asks how he died.
	+ Jeis says that he died protecting something important, which the woman assumes is Jeis herself. She goes on a rant saying that trusting people is bullshit
	+ Jeis tells her that she was the one who killed Jamril
	+ She opts to allow Jeis a favor, and gives her a gold coin with an x slashed in the back. This will allow her to cash in a favor
* Jeis and Rune proceed to get sloshed, Jeis gets so fucking drunk. They drag her ass back to the Embassy where Banks and Rune tuck her in
	+ Rune is disappointed that Torhd doesn’t tell her about the wyrm-ening
	+ Banks and Rune go to bed
	+ Jeis drunk cries and apologizes to Jamril

## Session 23: Knock Knock Knock'n on Tymorah's Door

* It’s a stormy morning. Banks sits down to talk to Aryn, who is drinking a martini.
	+ She says that Katyr quit and is looking for other employment, and the kids are relentless
	+ He asks if any other weird attacks have happened besides the clock shop.
	+ She says she isn’t aware of any
* Banks goes to wake up Rune, and he uses a booming voice to call out to Rune to wake her up, which thunders throughout the house. He busts the door open to find an empty room and an open window. He panics, thinking she’s gone, but she immediately walks through the door. Banks breaks a little
* The crew goes shopping, and buys component pouches
* They go to the park, and its raining hard. They don’t immediately see Rose, and the main tree in the park looks droopy
	+ Reytna talks to the plants, who say “She’s sick, we’re all sick.” It says that they don’t have long, and that they all are to die today.
	+ The tree explains that they have all been afflicted by the same sickness. Those with black robes came in the night and poisoned them all. It says that we must find Her
* They can’t find Rose, so they go investigate the Tymorah Temple. The doors are locked and there is no one inside. They pick the lock, and it seems like its been uninhabited for the day. There is dried blood, a couple hours old, leading to the back
	+ Banks busts the door to the back open after Torhd fails
	+ Reytna investigates and finds that Rose is dead with their chest cavity opened and their heart missing
	+ They go to a pool of blood at the end of the hallway going back to the bunk room, in which those who lived in the temple, 8 people, are all slaughtered. They’re all missing their hearts
* Jeis tries to call Rhyxali, but she doesn’t answer
* They hear a rattling behind the door. Torhd knocks the door down to find Tymorah herself cowering in the corner. At the sight of Torhd, she rages and runs at him. In an instant, Banks steps in the way and protects him. Tymorah stabs the fuck out of Banks, doesn’t hesitate, and goes to stab him again. Torhd blocks her, and Banks magically holds her until they can chat
* She says that they attacked her, and she basically hates everyone
* They calm her down, and she explains that she was summoned and left to rot in the storage room
	+ They explain that all the people in the temple were killed, their hearts stolen.
	+ Jeis asks what ritual it takes to shove a god into a mortal body, and Tymorah says that you need a heart.
	+ From this, Jeis suggests that they weren’t trying to kill her, they just needed her out of the way
* They decide to try to track down the other holy locations of the remaining Divine Nine gods and goddesses, so they go back to the gardens.
	+ Upon arrival, they find a group of soldiers centered around a tall corpse with glowing red eyes. It turns to look at them with malice. It’s Reiras, reanimated into a Revenant

## Session 24: Till Death Do Us Part

* The group has a little aside & Jeis goes on a wild plan rant where she doesn’t know what the fuck she’s talking about, and gets fucking cussed out by Tymorah for being a fucking idiot
* Then the party moves into stealth mode, ready to attack Reiras and company
	+ Lex is with him, along with multiple members of the Golden Sun. Lex tells the party to get to the horses and something else in CSL (Common Sign Language)
	+ The revenant reiras is fixated on Torhd
	+ Jeis immediately eviscerates 3 brandon frasiers in flames
	+ One bandit turns around and flees to the horses, making his escape
	+ Reiras and Lex fight viciously with Torhd and Rune as Reytna and Jeis snipe on the sidelines. At one point, a bandit makes it all the way to Tymorah, who slashes him to a pulp
	+ Banks eventually snaps out of his drunken state and tries to keep his friends alive
	+ Torhd, with a hearty blow, eviscerates Reiras once more, his body dissolving into goo
	+ One bandit escapes on a horse
	+ Lex tries to follow suit, but Torhd pursues him, and Jeis encases them both in a ring of fire, ensuring neither can leave
	+ The fire, swirling furiously around Torhd, continues to buffet him and Lex as they face off
		- *Maddie version:* Torhd gets a memory: He remembers his first life, and the heat of a nearby campfire heats a beautiful, warm night. Beside him, sits a happy Reiras Talfellow. He seems truly happy. He’s holding a leg of roast, and he’s drinking from his favorite pint glass. He always said “Good mead is always a need.” He remembered what it was like finding camaraderie in another who was taken in by Shadowcloaks. They used to be friends. They talk about what it may be like to get out of their lives. Reiras looks at him, smiling, and says “I hope it never changes. I hope we can always find the good. Here’s to making our way.” And they clink glass to flask, and they make merry for the night.
		- *Lili version:* As torhd gets lit on freaking fire, in his first life (young torhd, its summer, nighttime, in a camp) he sits around a campfire with Reris, who looks happy for once in his damn life and doesn’t look like hes about to slit torhd. He’s holding a roast pig leg and drinks some mead from his favorite pint glass. They’re just sittin and drinking by a campfire. They chat and hang out and talk about what they would do if they weren’t stuck in this dumb life. Reris is tipsy and says that he hopes it never changes and that they can always find the good. Torhd is apparently drinking liquor from a flask though lmao. Not gonna lie, this sounds like a fanfic i read earlier this week but thats fine. We can be chill about that. He still thinks about that fire and remembers it for the rest of his life and until Reris kills him brutally through the heart. This is perfectly fine.
	+ Torhd is knocked unconscious by Lex as they duel to the death in the fire
	+ Banks revives him, enabling him to pull himself up and knock Lex down with a final blow. Torhd stabs Lex two more times.
	+ Jeis fire blasts the fuck out of the last bandit
		- She threatens him with death and questions him
		- He says he was contracted by the bandits, led by Lex to work a contract
		- They sprinkled powder on all the plants to poison them
		- Lex said an incantation over a sacrificial heart. He says they only have a few minutes left in the ritual
		- She graciously lets him go, after calling him a pissbaby
* Torhd stabs Lex until she’s dead while Banks looks on in horror
* They loot the bodies
* Suddenly, in a great burst of light, Chauntea appears, in human form. She address each of them individually, and gracefully
	+ She asks Banks to make her tea, and gives him a rose
	+ He gratefully accepts
* She commands Torhd to drop the sword, and he does
	+ “You are free” says Chauntea
	+ “Fuck” says Torhd

## Session 25: Smooth (Mindcontrolled) Criminal

* Torhd looks at Banks guiltily
	+ He looks like he’s been holding on to some secrets
	+ He asks Chauntea “Do you know?” and she says, “Know what?”
		- Chauntea is acting like the stupidest motherfucker
	+ “Oh you mean about the murders?”
	+ Torhd starts to explain that back on the trail, the two bodies they found were killed by Torhd, as well as when Jeis and Rune went to the bar outside of Silvery Moon he followed and killed the bartender, his brother, the sheriff, and then a married couple in a home. He also killed 5 people in Silvery Moon (two homeless people, a drunk couple, and a night guard outside the Embassy)
	+ Banks asks if he fought the urges, and Torhd says that he tried, but it got stronger after they left the mountain
	+ Banks sits down with his head in his hands, shook by the news
	+ Jeis asks if he regrets it, and Torhd refuses to look at anyone. He says he regrets it now. Jeis sighs and says “Well, that’s what matters.”
	+ Rune says he’s fucked, and backs away from him
* Reytna tells them that they need to act now to stop the cult
	+ Banks asks Torhd if they can trust him. He says nothing, but he tells Torhd that he is not allowed to touch the sword.
	+ Reytna asks Chauntea what to do about the heart trees, but Chaunta’s blood is poisoned so it wouldn’t work
		- They then turn to look at Tymorah. Jeis asks how much she wants to get out of her body. She says quite a bit
		- She even admits that she kind of likes them, and agrees to do it
		- Jeis asks  if she would rather one of them stab her or if she would rather do it herself
		- Banks offers to hold the sword
		- So does Rune
		- Banks says that he trusts Rune if she feels like she can
* Rune cuts Tymorah’s hand with Godsbane, and they get 2 vials of Tymorah’s blood
	+ Banks insists that Rune drop the sword, and let him swap off
	+ He takes the sword, and the voice of Mask whispers to him. She says that Eldath has been keeping secrets from him. She tells him to ask Eldath about his mother.
* Banks cuts Chauntea’s hand and tries to pour Tymorah’s blood into the cut, but drops the first vial. Reytna then takes the 2nd vial and pours it into Chauntea’s cut
	+ She takes a second, but immediately the tree and the plants around in the garden perks back up. Chauntea’s head snaps up and she says “What the fuck just happened” She is back to her normal cognitive capabilities
	+ Banks ask if she's okay and she vomits violently and turns back
	+ She says that Eldath is proud of him, though she doesn't come forward and say that often
	+ Banks cries
* She tells Reytna that they need to take Chauntea's blood and put it on the root of the heart trees. She says the world is more connected than we would ever understand. She says it should work on any heart tree. She asks Reytna if they want to try to cure their heart tree or go back to their own. She pulls off their glove and inspects the poison. Its started to extend  up their arm, and their fingers are tingly and numb.
	+ Banks asks if they have the time to spare to go back to Reytna's heart tree, but they most likely don't. Reytna offers to go back to the tree they passed from Phandolin. Chauntea says they must hurry
	+ Chauntea asks what should become of her and Tymorah. She says that part of them exists here and part still in the godly realms.
	+ Banks asks if this has happened before and if either Chauntea or Tymorah remember how this has happened before, but neither has any memory. Chauntea turns to Jeis, recommending they call Rhyxali
* Reytna says they should get vials of Chauntea's blood first. It's their turn to use the sword. It insists that it can help, but Reytna resists. They get 4 vials of blood from Chauntea.
	+ Reytna casts cure wounds on Chauntea
	+ Banks grabs water from Chauntea's river
* They decide to go back to Aryn's for safety. Katyr comes out of the kitchen and asks what they've come to destroy. Reytna says the garden, and Banks says hopefully nothing
	+ Reytna tells Jeis to perform the ritual in the bathroom so it's easy to clean but Tymora and Chauntea convince her otherwise
	+ Jeis wanders through the house looking for a place to perform the ritual and finds a door with scratches
	+ Jeis lights a match and can see cobblestone and wooden crates that have been nailed shut
	+ Jeis looks at the crates and recognizes the elven house symbol as well as the symbol of the RedDawn company
	+ Jeis calls Rune over and down into the basement
	+ Jeis uses the crowbar to open the crate, which is very loud
	+ Reytna looks towards the source of the noise, recognizing that both Rune and Jeis are gone.
	+ Aryn and Katir both hear the noise as well, going to investigate. Reytna follows them.
	+ Jeis opens the box and just finds papers and legers. She reads one which is just a letter to Aryn informing her about her husband’s passing. The letter is from X, saying they hope the documents and other items help.
	+ Jeis digs through the rest of the crate and finds a small, water-worn chest that is locked.
	+ Jeis opens the chest and there's a skeletal hand and a letter
		- “Happy to take out another pest in your life. Trust me, at the end of all of this you will be grateful for him being gone. With him out of the way, we can finally secure our power. X”
		- Jeis can tell that Aryn in some way helped kill her husband.
		- Jeis puts the hand and letter back, locking the chest and putting everything back where she found it. She closes the crate and puts ritual items on top as if she was setting up for the ritual
	+ Aryn tells Rune to get out of the way and goes to grab Rune to push her out of the way. Reytna reaches and grabs Aryn’s hand, explaining that Rune and Jeis are just kids and don’t follow rules.
	+ Aryn pulls her hand back and goes down the stairs.
	+ Jeis explains that the dark is very conducive to summoning Rhyxali
	+ Aryn gets her spiritual weapon ready, which is possibly a scimitar serrated sword and holds it above Jeis
	+ Aryn demands to know the truth, Rune tells Aryn that they really are trying to perform a ritual
	+ Aryn asks Rune why she was standing at the top of the stairs and Jeis says it's because she has to write down secrets and Rune is nosy.
	+ Reytna waits until Katir and Aryn are gone before saying that, whatever they found, they should ask Rhyxali about it.
	+ Reytna notices that Rune was able to lie really easily, possibly indicating that she is receiving assistance from Godsbane or something.
	+ Jeis and Rune perform the ritual and Jeis gets transported
	+ There is no one in Rhyxali’s area
	+ Jeis goes through the blood door
	+ The door tells Jeis She is the heir to Rhyxali and asks why Jeis is there
	+ Jeis says she's looking for Rhyxali, the door says it can take her to Rhyxali
	+ The door opens and there is a wall of mist
	+ The book of secrets is on the table and Jeis takes it, the book says “unhand me” but Jeis just puts the book in her bag.
	+ Jeis opens the other door and the door explodes into flames, nearly killing Jeis
	+ Rune uses magic (Mage hand) to close the door and runs over to Jeis
	+ Rune gives Jeis her healing potion, and Jeis gives Jamrill some of her healing potion
	+ Jeis goes back to the talking door and says she would like to visit Rhyxalli. Jeis asks Rune if she would like to come with and Rune says yes.
* They enter the mist
	+ There is nothing, there is nowhere, this is a void. Jeis tries to say something but there is no sound.
* Reytna, Aryn, and Katir rejoin in the living room. Banks does the ritual on Reytna.
	+ The vibes… are real bad. We aren’t in active danger but we def weren’t supposed to be in the basement.
	+ Banks starts to do the ritual but this time, nothing happens.
	+ Banks suggests doing something idk
	+ Chauntea takes the vial of blood, pours it into the water, Reytna puts their hands in the water.
	+ Chauntea takes their hands out of the water and tells them to put their contempt for the gods aside and say a prayer with them.
		- “To the divine, I ask that we extend the vine and that we shall bring forth the light, banish the poison that brings strife. Mind body and spirits, may the gods cure it. “ x2
	+ The water shimmers and glows until it is way too bright to look at and when it dissipates, it's just Reytna standing there. (has been blessed)
	+ The poison is down to their forearms.
	+ Banks is able to hear Chauntea
	+ “Make eldath proud. I shall be rooting for you in the heavens” (Chauntea is back in the heavens”
	+ Banks looks at Tymora and tells her Chauntea is back in the divine realm
	+ Reytna suggests that Tymora bless someone to try an return to the divine realm.
	+ It does not work but now Banks has been blessed by Tymora
	+ Tymora asks for food and Katir takes her to get food
	+ Aryn, Banks, Torhd, and Reytna all sit in the living area.
		- Knows the elven council is somewhat corrupt and that there are a lot of sus undergoings trying to get some power. RedDawn is the company in Neverwinter (Rune) and are overspread (monopoly) and would be hard to connect how RedDawn is in relation to these boxes bc they could have just shipped the crates.
	+ Aryn tells them to get their kids and GTFO
	+ Reytna says they’ll go get the kids, Banks tries to convince them to drop the sword and they cannot.
	+ Reytna and Aryn go down to the basement and the candle is not lit. Reytna lights the candle.
* Jeis is suddenly returned to the chamber but its during a flashback from when they were all there. This is not a live message, it is one she has left
	+ My daughter, I hope you find me here at this point. Its but a memory, however, a good one. It was one of the first times I had felt hope in a long long time. You brought with you not only the driving force that could save us. But you also brought yourself, a child, willing and able to take this on. A devoted servant, but nonetheless one that Im glad to take on. I know i wasn’t your first choice. I know that you prayed and prayed to my mother and then to anyone else that would hear you. Your cries and your pleas fell upon deaf ears. No answers. But where others saw a mortal child, I saw a spark. Something that can light in the darkness. Everyone believes in the mortal and the devine that I like darkness. Over the millennia i have brought forth the light. Gods be damned, we all heard your prayers but I was the one to answer. The spanning of the abyss would perhaps laugh at a demon taking on a child. But i would not change this for the world or something. No contract has yet to be filled. I have become attached to you and in some ways im not sure if it will ever be filled. But i will grant you what you wish. Tale on Ishku, and take down the cult. For I am fighting with he divine as we prepare ourselves to be pulled to the mortal plane. You cannot let this happen, but know that if you should find yourself with one of my kind, gifts given must be received and if received the divine shall be given their gift. We all wish to ascend to where we're from. Go Jeis, go back to the world. Keep the light lit for you are the flame. And kill every last one of those bastards. I love you"
	+ SJeis is back in the dark but can see light from a door. Jeis opens the door and is spit back out onto the cobblestone floor of Rhyxali’s chamber.
	+ Jeis asks the door where Rune and Jamril are. The door says they are still in the mist. Jeis asks if she can get them and the door says she must wait for them. The door opens and its like TV.
		- Jamril - he’s a crow but hes flyin through the air. He lands at the spot where he was buried. He pokes at the ground and pulls up worms from the pile and squaks
		- Rune - walking through a forest. At her side is Mare who’s wearing a shaw/cape thing. She has spiky hair that has been dyed purple. Rune is walking and talking very excitedly about what they may find or where they can go next. Rune gasps as Mare stabs Rune in the back with a poisoned dagger. She writhes in pain and rolls onto her back, calling out to Mare. Rune calls out ‘Mare - help’ not realizing that Mare is the one who stabbed her. Mare replys that she cannot (help) and starts to walk away. Rune screams at her to come back until she gives up. She watches the sky until a cloaked shadow steps out of the woods and kneels next to her and touches her chest, bringing her back to life. A raspy voice in a muddled language asks her a question to which Rune shakes her head first. The figure takes out his own sword and threatens her and Rune agrees to the man’s terms and shakes his hand.
		- The door closes and Jeis demands it to reopen. The door says there are some things that are too painful to watch. The door tells her to take a seat and Jeis asks if she can go in there. The door tells her she cannot and Jeis asks why. The door says that she doesn’t have the right to watch these moment and that Jeis must wait until Rune is finished.
		- The door opens and Jamril returns. Jeis asks if Jamril was okay and he says that he’s okay but he saw some shit and misses being a human. That sometimes he accepts the crow role too easily and forgets to be human
		- Jeis and Jamril talk about being a bird and stuff.
		- Rune returns and Jeis hugs her. Rune requests that they stop going through random doors and asks if they can go home now.
		- Jeis says that Rhyxali is not here and says they should head back.
		- The door asks if they would like to leave and opens to the material plane.
* Jeis, Rune, and Jamril all pop back into existence. Reytna corrales them upstairs and informs Banks that they died.
	+ Banks says that they should leave.
	+ They decide to head for an inn, but Banks what's to stop at the river and commune with Eldath.
	+ Reytna notices that Lirzu is following them, and they go to chat
	+ Lirzu asks the status, Reytna tells her that they have the sword. She says she has been keeping an eye on them, and intervening in her own ways. She says she saved a couple people where she could.
	+ She asks what the plan is. Reytna tells them that they're going to heal the heart trees and start toward phandolin before ultimately, Neverwinter.
	+ She calls him Azodai Ishku. They are siblings
	+ Lirzu says that what they face will not be easy, and they could use extra hands
	+ She says that she will meet them there, and continue to follow
	+ Reytna asks about Ishku's forces. She says he's currently on Mount Hotenow. It's said that it's a portal to the 9 Hells. She says there's a sacred church there, that now serves as Ishku's home, and the birthplace of the Revenant. He's bartered the politicians in Neverwinter into submission, and they plan to March down soon. If we face his army, we're toast
	+ Reytna asks the best way to fight him. She says that he takes after their father, and he's weak to ice/water. He doesn't associate with the Azodai name anymore. The Azodai's were slaughtered by the beginnings of the Revenant, and Ishku saved them. But both Ishku and Lirzu went with them. Lirzu warns that he'll do anything, even kill his own sister.
	+ Reytna asks what we should do with Torhd. Lirzu asks how they feel about him. They admit that he is "predictably unpredictable" but they need him. Lirzu asks if there is more "Torhd" or Criton in him, and Reynta says that they are unsure that there's a difference. At that, Lirzu says that if theyre unsure, he needs to die.
	+ Rune says they should come back with them. Lirzu reluctantly agrees.
* They bring Lirzu back to the rest of the party. Reytna introduces her
* Meanwhile, Banks sees bubbling in the water and he says “I try not to ask for much, but we need your help more than ever”. The bubbling responds “Banks…” and Banks can’t really hear so he leans closer. “I’m here.” Banks explains that they are really in it now and that she’s one of the only gods responding. He asks Eldoth what is happening.
	+ The guardians are together. Chauntea has arrived back and updated us. Banks, it is commotion as gods must choose sides. Even the divine are favoring Bhaal in order to save their own skin. You may not be able to see us but we are still here because we are holding the world together. It is falling apart. You must defeat Bhalla
	+ Banks asks how they are supposed to win and Eldoth says they have everything they need. Chautnea’s blood, an orc army, Godsbane,
	+ The world feels like it is caving in because it is. The fabric of the world is falling apart. I don’t say this to discourage you, I say this because it is true and you are all whats gonna save the world idk. You are enough, you can do this.
	+ Banks asks about Tymora and how to get her upside. Think of the dream and everything will be solved.
* Reytna tells them they have to an act of kindness to return to the heavens
	+ Tymora half asses a compliment and Banks asks if Tymora even wants to return to her realm
	+ Tymora gets off of Blossom and looks up at Banks and says “I don’t know what I want.”
	+ Banks says they can leave Tymora if she wants, Reytna gets worried about Tymora being off by herself.
	+ Tymora says she’ll fuck off and she does… oh boy howdy. But what if she gets killed?

## Session 26: The Whole Tymussy

* Rune and Torhd go after Tymorah as she’s walking away. Rune tries to tell Tymorah that Banks is just a pussy and he’s dumb. He’s right.
	+ Torhd says she must do something out of kindness if she wants to go back
	+ She says that she didn’t kill Banks, which was “pretty nice:”
	+ Torhd says that there’s a difference btw saving someone and sparing someone
		- Tymorah says that’s rich coming from him
	+ Rune says she’s been kind of a bitch since she got downstairs
* They regroup, and Banks is frustration crying by the river
	+ He tries to apologize, but she stops him
	+ She says that she is sorry for how she acted, and that she’s just scared
	+ Banks says that he recognizes how difficult this whole situation has been for her, and he appreciates her words. He simply asks that she allow him to help where he can
	+ She blesses him, but she does not ascend yet
* While they travel to Phandalin, Jeis asks Liam what their ETA is, but they are roughly 2 days behind them
* On the second night, they notice a red streak across the night sky
	+ Torhd gets a flashback of him standing in a library, a stone building that’s falling apart. There’s a red glow coming from outside, the lighting from windows peeking around the shelfs. There is a dry heat surrounding him, as he pulls a book out and flips through it. He knows he’s looked at this books several times before. He finds a page on how to bring back a dead deity. Specifically, the imacts it would have on the world, in a theoretical sense. The world would begin having cracks through the metaphysical realm. As he’s reading, a reptilian claw pulls him back. Lirzu snatches the book out of his hand before closing it and tucking it underneath his cloak. He tells Criton he’s late for a meeting. He’s maybe early 20s in this memory, before he was a leader.
	+ Everyone notices, and Torhd realizes that this means Ishku is moving forward with the plan, that Bha’al may be back.
* Banks suggests that they go straight for the tree, and he can lead them through the woods. He also suggests that they can stop at his home
* Rune pulls Banks to the back, and she admits that she called him a pussy to Tymorah
	+ He thanks her for admitting that, and admits that maybe he had been kind of a pussy
* When they get to Banks’ house, the area around his mom’s grave is cleared and there’s a beautiful bouquet on her grave. There is also a new otherworldly tree that has grown over the grave. It’s a weeping willow, with ethereal petals that evaporate as they fall to the ground. It’s beautiful.
	+ An apparition of his mother appears. She hugs him, and he asks for her strength. She says that strength isn’t measured by the fear that we feel but the actions that we do. She tells him that he’s stronger than he knows.
	+ He tells her he misses her, and she says she’s always with him.
	+ Meanwhile, inside, Rune finds Bank’s journal that has all of his dirty secrets and years of pining. It’s mortifying
* Torhd sits outside, and Tymorah comes to join him. Tymorah tries to relate to him
	+ They talk about how Torhd’s lived several lives. And Tymorah asks what life Torhd would like to live once all this is over.
	+ He says he’s not sure, he’s never had to think about that. Every time, his life has been decided for him. He’s never had a real choice
	+ Tymorah tells him he’s been pretty unlucky, and that he’s had enough bad luck to cover him for a couple more lifetimes. She tells him that she hopes he gets to experience a mortal life that’s not so mediocre
	+ She says that she thinks what the party is doing is pretty admirable. She says not many mortals would take up the call
	+ Torhd says that he was chosen because he broke a table….and a door
	+ Tymorah admits that it was actually Rhyxali trying to give Jeis a sign, and he wasn’t physically the one to break the table. That he was chosen beforehand.
	+ Torhd says “...I think that still means I owe Liam money.”
	+ Tymorah gives him 2 coppers to help pay it off
* Reytna asks Jeis and Rune what they found at Aryn’s
	+ They tell them that Aryn probably orchestrated her husband’s murder
* They leave Bank’s house, and make it to the heart tree outside Phandalin
	+ The trunk looks extremely poisoned, and it looks like it is on the brink of death
	+ Reytna pours the vial of Chauntea’s blood over the tree’s roots
	+ As they pour the blood out, the poison seeps out of the surface of the tree. It centers into a pool that steams and then dissipates. They begin to feel lighter, and they suddenly fall unconscious
	+ Banks catches Reytna as they fall unconscious. He can tell that their body is essentially rapidly fighting off the infection of the poison. Their fingertips of their gloves are damp. He takes off their gloves, and he finds that the poison in Reytna is bubbling out of their fingertips, just like the tree.
* As they’re waiting, they hear footsteps through the forrest
	+ Torhd goes to grad Godsbane from Reytna, and Banks stops him. He asks if he’ll be able to drop it if he picks it up now. Banks tells Torhd that they’ll have to take it by force if he can’t drop it later. He agrees and grabs the sword
* Out from the woods steps a new shambling body that Reiris has taken over. The Revenant returns. With two perrytons
	+ Torhd grabs the sword, rages, and immediately goes up and stabs the shit out of Reiris, kicking off the fight
	+ Meanwhile, Reytna is fighting for their life against the illness.
	+ The party fights on, Banks holding Reytna in his arms while casting protection around them. Jeis fights a perryton off of them while Banks holds Reytna as they fight to stay alive.
	+ Torhd is fighting Reiris head on, and Jeis summons a water elemental to keep him at bay.
	+ While the battle rages on, Banks feels Reytna take their last breath. He cries and screams at Reytna’s death
	+ He sets them down, and stalks toward Reiris, smiting him with a giant beam of radiant light
	+ Jeis and Lirzu take out the perrytons, and Torhd takes the last hit at Reiris before he is defeated again
* Banks goes back and looks over the body, frantically looking for anything that can be done. He turns to Tymorah, asking if there’s anything they can do, magic, a blood transfusion with Chauntea’s blood, anything
	+ Tymorah takes 500 gold out of her bag, presses it into Rune’s hand and tells her to take Blossom and ride as fast as she can to go get a diamond to power the revival spell
	+ As Rune rides off, Banks takes Tymorah’s hand and thanks her with the most sincerity he’s ever had
	+ She tells him that she is sorry for being a coward when she should have been a goddess. She says that maybe loss could have been prevented, and she’s sorry.
	+ Banks carries Reytna and the rest of the party travels as fast as they can behind Rune back to Phandalin
* They arrive back at Phandalin, and Rune is waiting for them. They go upstairs to Jeis’ room, and Banks lays Reytna’s body on the bed. He takes the diamond and brings
* When Reytna died, they went to a heaven that looks like their field by their heart tree
	+ They’re there for roughly a year, and it’s wonderful
	+ They’re walking through the forest, and as they take a drink from a crisp, clear spring, they hear Artemis’ voice say, “Your vacation is over”
	+ And Reytna comes back, laying in Jeis’ bed, surrounded by a bunch of idiots
	+ They groan as they come back. They ask to be literally anywhere else, so Jeis takes them down to Liam’s room to rest.
* Torhd, Rune, and Jeis go shopping in town while Banks stays back to watch over Reytna
	+ They stock up on armor, gear, and potions
	+ They get horses for everyone
	+ Rune buys a dog
	+ Torhd asks every merchant if they have a diamond, and they all say no. The armory guy says they might be able to find one in Leilon, or the sheriff guy outside of town may have some
* They come back, and Torhd recommends that they travel to Leilon to get a diamond
	+ Rune stays back to watch Reytna and Lirzu
	+ Before they leave, Rune asks Jamril to fly a letter to Neverwinter to Phihana to ask them to meet back at Phandalin
	+ The rest of the crew ride off to Leilon

## Episode 27: The Shrek Episode

* Torhd, Banks, and Jeis head to Leilon. They hear bells in the distance as they enter
	+ The streets are empty, and when they arrive at the shops, they are all closed and looks to be abandoned
	+ Jeis picks the lock into an armory, and finds some half plate armor and tries to
	+ Outside, Banks notices that the sky is turning even more red, and a hellish glow overtakes the sky. He hears a loud explosion before silence overtakes the city, with faint screams in the distance
* As they walk toward the noise, they notice the smell of burning bodies. They turn the corner, and see a woman with child cowering from a young black dragon who has landed on a nearby roof
	+ Torhd rushes in to try to save the woman and child. The dragon sprays him with acid, and he yells at the woman and child to get back
	+ The dragon attacks the crew
	+ The mother and child manage to run away
	+ Jeis turns the dragon into a turtle, but she yells to stab it, and when Torhd does, it breaks the spell
	+ The dragon then grabs Jeis and carries her 20ft into the air
	+ Jeis negotiates with the dragon so that they can chat with the promise of gold
	+ It flies off fast, in the direction of Mount Hotenow
	+ Banks and Torhd follow the dragon as far as they can see, and realize that its going toward the mountain
	+ They decide to go back and retrieve the rest of the party
* Meanwhile at the Inn, Liam comes bursting back through the door. Lirzu points him toward the back, he tells Galan to fuck off. Where Rune explains everything that happened.
	+ He tells Reytna that the orc army was not welcomed due to their previous murderous habits. There is still an army of about 1000 sneaking through the woods, lead by Graman
	+ He also asks Reytna what Galan is doing there. Retina asks if he’s running the place, and he says Greta is supposed to be.
	+ He leaves, and he asks Greta what the fuck Galan is doing there. She says that she invited him back to help, and that he’s been doing great
* Banks and Torhd make it back to the Stonehill Inn, and Lirzu and Rune are taking bets as they watch Liam, Galan, and Greta going at it
	+ Torhd runs in and says that Jeis was taken, but no one hears him
	+ Banks walks up, grabs Liam by the shoulders, and says “YOUR DAUGHTER IS MISSING” which finally gets his attention
	+ They explain that Jeis was taken by a dragon
	+ They also ask if anyone’s seen Phihana
* Phihana walks in the door, and Banks says he’s never been happier to see her.
	+ He asks if she’s willing to help in their fight
	+ She says the Sacred Harp is gathering in Neverwinter
	+ Phihana says that she and her group will go to Neverwinter and rally the troops
* Rune asks Banks where she should go
	+ He says that it’s her decision, and she’s fully capable of going either way
	+ She hugs Banks, and says that she’s more comfortable with them, but she may be more help in Neverwinter
	+ She says “I love you, Dad.” And he gets all teary. He begs her to be so safe
* They have an army of roughly 1383 people (1000 orcs, 300 neverwinter soldiers, and 83 sacred harp members) versus Ishku’s army of 4321 (4320 without Torhd)
* Phihana and her crew + Rune will go talk with the Neverwinter leaders to warn them of the coming attack
* Banks, Torhd, Retina, Liam, and Lirzu will go to Mount Hotenow to rescue Jeis
* Meanwhile, the dragon flies with Jeis for hours, explaining every location and town they pass over
	+ He says his boss is Ishku and starts telling her
		- The azodai clan is about as old as the dragon is. They were known for their communication and ability to lead. They made lots of connections with other dragonborn kind. They originate from the Craigs, however, they ran into hardship, famine, and eventually were too weak to protect themselves. Though not all bands of orcs dedicate themselves to violence, one such crew came through and demolished the Azodai clan. Only 2 survived: Ishku, only a young hatchling. And Lirzu, who had yet to hatch. He carried his sister out and saved them both. They traveled and looked for a new home. The Azodai clan were all great leaders, but this power comes with a price. As Lirzu grew, she grew apart from her brother and decided she was not a fan of the Revenant, where they found home. She was sent away to mining camps for the rest of her days, where she was not allowed to see sunlight. She was able to escape the mines with some of her closest friends, but not everyone made it out in the escape. Since then, Lirzu has been a phantom, always escaping the eye of her brother. She now travels with a band of “do-gooders”
		- He says he can smell the infernal on her. The 9th plane specifically. He says that tragedy tends to follow those associated with the 9th plane. And Jeis agrees
	+ They crest the mountain, and there are rivers of lava, and in the center of the lava lake is what looks like a library.
	+ The dragon takes her into his cave, littered in gold and decorated with skulls