Session 24

Session 24

·   Session begins

·   The party is asleep, the regulars are in the cuddle puddle.

·   Vjenga sends two letters.

·   Venphira dreams.

o    She hears a voice “How does this make you feel? To be stabbed in the back by those that you consider close?”

o    It is the voice of her patron again, Níðhöggr, and she sees the familiar prison of roots.

o    Venphira says she isn’t sure how to feel because she doesn’t have all of the information. As it stares at her with its big ol’ eyes, Níðhöggr insists that she has to protect the legacy of her family.

o    She has a vision in amber of the following four silhouettes: Ulfred, Morgana, Leonidas and Nanna. When she sees them she becomes nauseous. The sword emerges from her body, and along the fuller there are six new runes that appear and glow red.

o    The shapes representing the Lumleys and their servants are kneeling as if to be beheaded. Níðhöggr urges her to kill them for what they’ve done, “You must kill them, avenge those who have been taken from you -- stolen from you -- and have wrenched your compassionate soul to rend what humanity you once had.” zamn

o    Venphira lifts the sword to face the figures with the tip, but she falters. She says she needs more time and to better understand her situation.

o    Níðhöggr insists that “We must free ourselves from these shackles that bind us. You must take my power and destroy them as they have you. You cannot be hesitant in your choices or it will lead to nothing but your own suffering.”

o    Níðhöggr continues to insist that Venphira free herself and then free it, repeating “free me” and “freedom” as her vision changes, and she wakes.

§  Rip to Níðhöggr you would have loved american bible belt bumper stickers

o    She is shaken by Lothtr, who has entered the room and shaken Venphira awake.

·   Lothtr asks if Venphira can trust her friends, she says yes. He tells her to wake them and to follow him, and seems urgent.

·   Sylvi wakes, and helps get Eikthyr off Vjenga’s face, who is borderline suffocating.

·   On Vjenga’s forehead there is a tiny hat made out of Eikthyr’s fur. Vjenga sees this as an olive branch offering from Eikthyr and says she accepts, and asks him not to laugh weirdly anymore. He seems sad. :( I’M SORRY EIKTHYR YOU’RE SCARY BUT I HOPE WE CAN TRUST YOU. YOU’RE A GOOD GOOD ELDRITCH BOY.

·   Lothtr hurries the group out of the room, though they have time to put on armor, and they move to collect Ymna from where he is sleeping.

·   As the group shuffles into the room, Ymna half-wakes, and notices a bunch of shapes move into his room quietly. Vjenga is his sleep-paralysis demon, and she shakes him awake.

·   Vjenga asks what they’re doing. Lothtr says they need to speak to them in the basement, which sounds sus as fuck. He promises he’s not trying to hurt us. Hard to read

·   🤨

·   Venphira, Sylvi, Vjenga (Jinx sleeping in her bag) and Ymna follow Lothtr out into the tavern, down toward the ground floor.

·   As they are moving through the building, they can see shifting shapes in the street. The figures are tall and lanky, taller than Ymna. They swing their arms in front of them as they move. One stops by the door, and as they do the party hides behind a table. The eyes of the figure cast a cone of light which sweeps over the party in their hiding place.

o    The whole time this was being described I thought “oh bitchin just like Dishonored” but I looked it up and I can’t find any evidence of that being in Dishonored.

·   Lothtr is holding a censer, and while it doesn’t cast any light it does fill the room with smoke. Vjenga is able to deduce that it is a blend of herbs burning flamelessly(?) in the censer, and there is something magical going on.

·   The creature lets go of the frame, long claws scraping against the wood. The party can see the creature as it leaves and does the same to other buildings, peering inside.

·   Lothtr leads them quickly into the basement, they are in total darkness. The marching order is Venphira, Vjenga, Sylvi, Ymna.

·   Lothtr lights a lantern, and as the basement is illuminated the present party can see two to three rows of people sitting in the previously dark basement. They are all armed and aiming weapons at the party.

·   Lothtr says that they need to be sure the party can be trusted, an informant from the Lumleys’s employ has told them that the party did get buddy-buddy (if you can call it that) with the Lumleys over dinner.

·   Vjenga says they are not allied with the Lumleys, Sylvi agrees. Venphira steps in front of Sylvi and says that Sylvi has not been with Ulfred and Morgana for years. Sylvi gets aid in her persuasion check.

·   In Celestial, Lothtr tells their allies to lower their weapons.

·   The hooded figures Lothtr is allied with are wearing masks. Stop da spread.

·   A goliath member of this band pulls a table from the wall and places it down in the room, and the party slowly comes to sit around it. Ymna throws a hissy fit.

·   From the darkened part of the room, Nanna emerges. She apologizes and says that they had to be sure that the party was trustworthy.

·   Vjenga asks how Nanna survived. She says that Lothtr helped her regain her health and her strength after the Lumelyfication incident. It seems believable, as she and Lothtr seem to have a parental relationship.

·   Lothtr explains that the resistance was formed under Nanna’s leadership. Nanna says that she feels immense anger toward the Lumleys family for what they’ve done, but is stilled by the knowledge that it will “all be over soon”.

·   They mention some of the other powerful nobles that have been assisting the Lumleys rule. Venphira remembers some of these people from a trip she took to Arkadia.

o    An unnaturally bloated man, who doesn’t walk, disappears and reappears to move. This was fun for children who would play hide and seek with him.

o    The polar opposite of this person, a very short lanky woman. Similar in appearance to Morgana, with a blonde streak in her hair. She is so thin as to appear skeletal.

o    Three girls and two boys. The girls dressed almost the same. The boys were not talkative. One boy was a coward and fled from all conversation, the other boy seemed to think that other people were beneath them.

·   Lothtr explains that the party which takes place in a few days will give them an opportunity to strike out against the Lumleys. They and the party will be out of town, as the event is going to take place at the Queen’s Palace. He says they will continue to instruct the party accordingly, on a need to know basis.

·   Vjenga asks if they can be given more information, given the fact that they are walking into a deathtrap. Lothtr says they’ll be given more information as soon as the resistance can set up “precautions”

·   Venphira wants to work with them wholeheartedly.

·   Lothtr seems prepared to listen to Venphira, as she is the eldest surviving Vidal. Sylvi finds Venphira’s leadership role very attractive.

·   Venphira asks if Nanna has effective reign over the castle and knowledge over its layout. She says that even their most trusted servants are prevented from accessing certain areas. But she hopes that she can get enough information and influence to allow the party access enough to catch the Lumleys by surprise. The party will be a gathering of the queen and her closest disciples/loyalists.

·   They don’t know much about the interior of Queen Bergljot castle. She used to have many guests, but since her change in demeanor she has done a lot of remodeling -- some of which may involve antimagic areas.

·   Venphira says everyone must agree to help her enact vengeance on the Lumleys family in its entirety. She wants to make them suffer in the same way that the Vidals suffered. Venphira baby your warlock is showing.

·   Vjenga says she won’t help punish people that weren’t aware of the Lumleys family’s shittery.

·   What Venphira meant *apparently* was that the party should protect themselves if need be.

·   Lothtr reminds them that the Lumleys have been in power for several years, and have methods both magical and non magical to influence and control the people under them.

·   He also says that they have been tasked with finding the party suitable clothing for the party. Isn’t that a little confusing? I’ll call them the gang when talking about both parties in the same sentence from now on.

o    If I remember

o    DRESS UP YES. The gang should keep in mind that they may need to conceal items or weapons while attending the party.

o

·   Vjenga asks about whether Langar will be able to continue wearing his armor, as he has been ardently refusing to take it off in the company of others so far.

o    Lothtr seems to recall someone described as a dickhead who wouldn’t remove his armor. He apparently was also in the army, and heard stories about Langar.

o    Vjenga says he’s not a dickhead, Lothtr clarifies that he was a pain in the ass mostly to people above him. He thinks that the armor won’t be an issue, as Queen Bergljot seems to already fancy Langar.

·   The additional precautions in her castle are not set up for the party, they have been a product of her increased paranoia.

·   Lothtr doesn’t know if Langar and Queen Bergljot have met, but he assumes she likes him for his guts. Vjenga says that he’s still extremely gutsy, and that they may get along well enough to make Queen Bergljot an ally rather than a threat.

·   One of the other cloaked figures hands Lothtr and Vjenga two stones with faces, he explains that they are sending stones.

o    Once a day, a stone can rub their hand over the face of the stone and speak a message to cast Sending to the holder of the other stone.

·   Lothtr gives it to Sylvi, he eyes her closely as if this is a test.

·   Sylvi decides to test it, and rubs her thumb against it to send a message. Into the stone, she says “Venphira”

·   The party hears an echo, and Sylvi hears the reply in her mind.

·   Vjenga asks why she made her test message just “Venphira.”

·   “Because she’s hot”

·   Nanna seems coyly surprised that Venphira would be “very close friends” (as historians would put it), with the daughter of the Lumleys.

·   The plan is in the next four days to prepare the party for the party and the resistance for resisting, (mercing the Lumleys).

o    Lothtr asks if the party has any interest in pursuing the Duke and Duchess, who seem to have had a significant role to play in the betrayal of the Vidals.

o    Their names are Duke Kragen and Duchess Zafrina.

o    He doesn’t know what they are capable of or if they are vampires like Ulfred or “something different” like Morgana. There are rumors but nothing “concrete”. Get it. Get it? Get it?

§  She’s crueler than her husband.

·   Lothtr needs to know what the party wants to wear by the end of the day so that the tailors can prepare.

·   Vjenga asks Venphira what she wants to do.

·   Venphira wants to speak to Nanna, but decides to save her questions until “after they go through with everything” Nanna has questions for her too.

·   Some of the resistance begins to leave through a hole in the back of the basement. It appears to be part of a tunnel system that they use for furtive underground travel. It’s about dwarf sized.

·   Vjenga asks Ymna if they are okay with everything that has been happening.

·   Lothtr asks what stake Ymna has in this, and whether they can trust him.

·   Ymna just says that they have been traveling with the party, they have no stake. Lothtr’s suspicion seems to double down.

·   “I guess you’ll have to find out”

·   Ymna says he’s just in it for the cards. This is not adequate. He rolls a wisdom saving throw.

·   THE BOYS DEAFEN

o    Impostor Ymna Live illustration.

·   Lothtr orders Ymna not to act in a way that is counter to the goals of the resistance.

·   Vjenga is able to tell that there was a spell cast. The charm around Lothtr’s neck seems to shimmer as he speaks to Ymna. (geas)

·   Ymna says “I’m with you, also with the cards.”

·   Vjenga briefly explains the cards when Lothtr asks her to elaborate. Lothtr also orders Ymna not to touch any of the cards on the bodies of Ulfred or Morgana Lumleys, or cards that were in their possessions.

·   The party rolls very poorly on stealth, and has a SCARY encounter with some mysterious creaking noises, but eventually makes it back to their rooms without issues. On the way, Vjenga rights a drunk man passed out on the tavern floor.

·   Ymna’s dreams are consumed by thoughts idolizing and enforcing a trust of Lothtr, dreams of his family have been replaced. The dream does not seem sinister. “Lothtr is so cool, you wanna listen to him.”

·   The next morning, the party gathers for breakfast in the tavern. CHEEEEESE AND BREEEAAAD AND CHUNKY SOUUUUP. Soup for breakfast lets go. meal of champions.

·   Solla takes a piece of bread outside the tavern to meditate.

·   Langar does not join the party for breakfast.

·   When he doesn’t show, Vjenga checks on him. There are two empty blood vials by his bed and he appears to be sleeping. Snorin’ it out. As long as he’s not in eternal sleep we are gucci.

·   SHOPPING

·   Sylvi Vjenga Venphira and Ymna head to the jewelers to exchange Sylvi’s vast material wealth for a different kind of material wealth. The jeweler pays the party and throws in a bag of holding.

·   I’M THE VOICE OF REASON???

·   Sylvi makes her own decisions like a big girl.

·   Venphira and Sylvi see a coy smile and FREAK OUT.

·   Math ensues.

·   The party splits up the money, not including Qo (SORRY WE LEGIT ONLY ATE DINNER WITH HIM KALE COME BACK)

·   Everyone gets 600 **platinum** pieces in their share of the bag. Sylvi gets slightly more.

o    I made you a handy dandy spreadsheet <3

·   I lagged out for a little bit here so I may have missed some stuff. Do me a solid and write it in if you remember.

·   It’s Sylvi’s Bag of Holding, but after a little while she asks Vjenga to carry it because she is more responsible. Does not say much for the level of party responsibility if the party “adult” is a giant who can’t sleep without a teddy bear and vomits when stressed.

·   Bank activities.

·   A shorter half orc walks into the jewelers as the party is struggling with their money, as Vjenga comes to the counter, they are leaving in a huff.

o    I AM VERY SORRY FOR TAKING UP SO MUCH SESSION TIME W/ SHOPPING (and putting Riley to not-sleep). I lost track of time having fun with the shopkeeper :’(

o    Vjenga asks what they were upset about (their jewelry was fake), and learns via insight check that the jeweler wouldn’t sell fake gems to someone they approved of. They might sell fake jewels to someone scummy, or as a more affordable alternative.

o    In asking about ring sizes, Vjenga learns from the jeweler that Queen Bergljot is accepting of giants for militaristic purposes.

o    As Vjenga continues to ask about their stock, the jeweler seems to become suspicious that she is a scalper. Thank you for the advantage on that persuasion roll Elyes

o    So many ring options, very charismatic jeweler

§  Vjenga rolls shitty on an insight check as to whether the jeweler is flattering her

§  Zilyana is the jeweler. They are a tan, wrinkled half elf. The shop is called The Heavenly Prospect.

§  Zilyana is magically tanned.

§  Vjenga buys three platinum rings engraved in Jotunn with the message “looking out for you”

§  One for herself, one for Jinx (who was sleeping in her bag), and one average human sized ring.

§  She also gets a diamond ring (teardrop, chocolate), and a backup diamond (same shape, purple). (both are of revivify quality)

·   Solla has been waiting outside the tavern this whole time, they stop Vjenga when she passes

o    They ask Vjenga if they have heard back from their nerd friend

o    Vjenga says yes, and that their name is Karli. They are the cartographer who we rescued from the [[trold]] when the party picked up Jinx. They are in Kolbovaik. Vjenga shares the letter she received with Solla.

§  Vjenga,

§  We've arrived! T- thank you very much for your assistance!! Or, I've arrived... Please, come over! I can help you with anything map related, maps from the past or present!

§  Karli

o    Solla asks about the other letter that they read before, the one to Gunborg. Vjenga says that she hasn’t heard back from her, and she is concerned. Gunborg left the party at Boundless Stronghold, which is dangerously close to the supposed location of the Helm of the Valkyrie.

o    Solla says that they have their own concerns, though they are in the southeast and not near Maerin. Solla is adamant about going to the wedding in the south but won't elaborate too much.

o    Vjenga can tell that they are holding onto something, and presses them further.

o    Solla explains that they don’t know much about their origins, but that their parents didn’t tell them much. They lived quietly in a fishing village. They say that they did not live quietly enough, because people came to harm their parents.

o    Solla thought they knew where their parents are, but has received a letter that “threw that into extreme doubt”

o    They insist that they visit the golden horn, they think that the group of dragonborns is associated with other strange things happening around the continent.

o    Vjenga says that this seems dangerous.

o    Solla concurs.

o    Solla says that they’ll consider telling the rest of the party about their reason for wanting to explore.

o    Vjenga cuts them off to give them a hard time about not trusting people, especially the party.

o    Solla explains that their parents are dead (maybe not), and they are responsible for the death of the assassin. They have a very hard time trusting people (obviously)

o    Vjenga encourages them to BE HONEST, and says you can only succeed if you can count on the people you’re with.

o    Solla concedes and says that they’ll tell the party about their history and the letter, but seems to have some trepidation about trusting Jinx because of the Hugo book incident.

o    Solla asks if Vjenga is good at reading people.

o    She says she thinks so, asks if they are trying to lie to her. Solla no, asks that she keep her eyes open once the party finds themselves in the dragonborn’s area. Vjenga says she always keeps her eyes open. This is apparently a shock to Solla, who says they can’t tell. Vjenga flips her bangs up to show them.

o    MAKE A WISDOM SAVING THROW

o    Jk hee hee

o    Solla asks if her hair is magic? No? Asks if she was born with her hair braided? Also no.

o    Solla says goodbye and walks away abruptly after the hair conversation.

Session ends

You got to the end!