Episode 7: Boys, Girls, and the Fey

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**July 1, 2020 - 4 hour session and Ridgely was missing**

The group began in the forest with the grass and vines growing at an alarming rate.  Two of the party could see a silhouette figure with hands raised.  The group started to retreat out of the forest, something Luberos was happy with as he was already keen to leave thanks to some sort of enchantment.  The figure started to glow with a vibrant energy when Floating Feathers Upon The Wind landed between the figure and the group.  The light faded, and the figure addressed Rhistel, his fellow druid.  A black Kenku, the strange druid introduced himself as Pire, and was indeed the druid looking for Rhistel a couple weeks prior.  During the confrontation, Ridgely was immobilized and made unconscious by a venomous vine that had scratched his face.  The group followed Pire to his camp, and the others followed (Ridgely riding like a sack of potatoes over the back of his horse).

After playing host for a bit, offering food and fire, Pire told the group of a ritual with which he needed help so they could discover more about the darkness imitating from the Fey.  The group agreed to help with the ritual, both in preparation and execution.  Luberos, Muud, and Rhistel went in one direction to search for mushrooms for the ritual and herbs for tea and Luberos’ upcoming brew.  They found tons of mushrooms that they gathered (and pocketed a few).  They were also able to find nearly all the herbs they were looking for for the brew, but Luberos was unable to find any berries that were unique to the area.  Koko Dotharl and Dienaar Josephine went off in another direction towards a pond Pire had told them about.  Upon arriving, Koko suggested that they have a sorely needed bath.  They climbed to a low hanging branch over the water and jumped off.  After some splashing, playing, and general merriment, they delved into some deeper conversation regarding Josephine’s background and her place in the group.  Koko assured her that she was a member of the party and could trust them.  After some strategic digging and persuasion, Koko was able to get out of Josephine that there is some sort of rift among the Towenaar, and that perhaps this is part of the reason for Josephine’s discomfort with Koko.  They continued to bathe, play, and talk until nearly sundown at which point they made their way back to camp.

Upon arriving back in camp and indicating they were ready to participate in teh ritual, Pire had them all lay down and gave them some mushrooms.  He then held out his staff with a glowing blue orb at the end and chanted the words to the Ritual of Dreams.  The group faded away, and suddenly awoke in the Fey.  Though perhaps not the Fey?  It was a strange place, and while they were trying to figure out what was going on, a boat emerged from a whirlpool in a nearby lake, grew long legs, and walked away.  In the distance, in the direction the boat left, they saw a mountain.  As they moved closer to it, they grew to an enormous size, squishing trees and knocking over aggressive fey creatures with the sounds of their voices.  Upon reaching the mountain, they found a lush cave entrance.  Koko imagined herself small and in the cave entrance, and suddenly she was as she imagined.  The others followed suit, and they found themselves normal size and in the cave.  It was filled with lush bushes, trees, grass, etc.  Luberos pulled out his lute and played a lovely song, “Secret Tunnel,” and the flora began to react and dance.  Little balls of glowing light floated into the air and gyrated with the music.  They travelled deeper into the cave and eventually found a large chamber with a brown bear sleeping in the foliage.   They conjured some honey and brought it was an offering.  As they approached the bear, they started to hear a rhythmic chanting that grew louder and louder.  As it grew, the bear began to stir.  Eventually it became deafening and the bear awoke, eyes open with black flowing energy emanating from them.  It let out a massive roar and stood up to reveal its lower half, a giant spider body with eight massive legs.  A necrotic energy spread from it, killing all the flora and corrupting the fauna.  Then it attacked.  The group fought valiantly, but Koko was quickly knocked unconscious and impaled by a spider leg.  Rhistel was able to heal her back to fighting condition, but doing so attracted some negative attention.  The bearspider ruthlessly attacked Rhistel, who was also knocked unconscious.  Muud dragged him away and force-fed him a goodberry he found in Rhistel’s belt, bringing him back to consciousness.  The group continued to fight and eventually they were victorious over the bearspider.  Koko leaped onto its back and landed the killing blow, but instead of falling down dead, the bearspider started to disintegrate, and a ball of glowing energy let out a scream and flew through the mountain and away.  At this point, the mountain began to shake fiercely and rocks started to fall from the walls and ceiling.  In a rush to leave, the group started running towards the exit.  They encountered a chasm that had opened up, and Rhistel threw Josephine across it with a rope.  She tied it to the other side, and the rest of the group were able to either climb or jump across.  Then encountered some corrupted feyotes that they quickly dispatched.  Finally, a rock blocked their path, but the group were all able to climb over it without issue, except for Muud who slipped twice.  As Rhistel, Josephine, and Luberos reached the opening to the cave, they saw meteors falling from the sky, and one that would impact them directly.  Unfortunately, the slipping and other delays meant that Koko and Muud were unable to escape before a giant meteor hit the mountain and destroyed it.  The rest of the group grew massive and were knocked back by the force of the impact.  They saw a blue light in the distance and mad either way there.  Upon entering it, they were transported safely back to their bodies around the campfire in Pire’s camp.  Muud and Koko also awoke, but they did not feel so great.  And it is there that we left off.