Session 6

### Synopsis

Upon his death, Curio finds himself drawn into a different plane of existence. To his eye, Curio sees locations that match up with what he knows exist in the world he is from. Spirits linger here, most shuffling towards a bright light that Curio recognizes would mean passing on from whatever there is in this life. He too sees Doran talking to an unfamiliar man and goes down to talk to him. He tells Doran that making the mixture was successful, and that the remaining Anesh are going home to administer the cure to the residents. He chooses to pass on with this knowledge. Meanwhile, in the Material Plane, the remaining party members look on in despair at their friend. Then, out of the forest, a woman encased in moss and thin gossamer robes steps out, telling the party she was drawn here due to the presence of one of her followers and the sense that something that upsets the balance of life and death happened here. Silene is distrustful of her, but she checks over Curio's body and confirms that if she attempts this on her own, without a connection to Curio, she might force him back against his will, creating unintended consequences. As she pours Mana through Curio, the strange blue runic marks appear and she says she cannot remove them and they will tether Curio here should the ritual succeed.

As Curio sees Doran and Anesh choose to pass on with the knowledge he has granted them, he is overwhelmed with light as Meilikki appears before him. She introduces himself and says she watched him attempt to defend the soul which was a good deed and that's what's led her to try and help him. She tells him to take her hand and he does. She brings him to her grove and walks with him there. She discusses compassion while walking with him in a blooming orchard, handing him a peach to much on, which she vocally encourages, but this peach is all pit and she tells him to also eat the pit - he's a ghost, he won't feel the pain only experience the difficulty. She walks him to a small knoll outside the orchard towards a rising sun and a she ends speaking about compassion, she turns him to see the Dawning light expose hideously transformed trees tended by dryads- men and women with trees growing from their mouths, their faces the root system, twisted knots and roots for eyes. "You've eaten a seed of rebirth, with it comes new life. Forsake my gift and compassion and you will join my grove."

Back in the Material Plane, the rest of the party attempts to bring Curio back with different offerings. Ensley sings a wonderful song about ice and coming to the plane of the living,, Elswyth attempts to weave a pine basket with goodberries, and Silene casts druidcraft with the squirrel skull and threatens Curio while druidcrafting the flowers she’s named for. Meilikki tells Curio his fight is not over yet. She requested that Curio use his nature to hunt those that threaten the natural order of the world. The undead, the monstrosities, and the demons who would create an imbalance in this world. Curio feels a tug on him, calling him back, and he doesn't resist. He is slammed back into his body, gasping, eyes opening wide. Meilikki is gone. As Curio got up, he realized that something feels different. Almost like he isn't quite here in this realm. He looked down at his body, which is now covered in strange runic symbols in a language none of the party understands. The group discussedswhat happened and eventually returned to rest at Laucien's camp.