Through the Aspen Veil

**Through the Aspen Veil** is the sixth episode of *Failed Save*.

## DM's Recap

Last week saw our heroes introduced to Darisa, codename "Librarian," leader of the Reading Club, a rebel cell located in Čenik deep within the heart of the Kossirik Empire. Despite the certainly improvisational look of the party, Darisa knew she had little choice but to trust them with an urgent mission. The Kossai had narrowed in on the location of Celhani and the gnomes needed to be warned. By way of Finch, a kenku associate of Darisa's, the party was provided the initial steps of a ritual to access the city and a map of how to reach the Aspen Veil from which the ritual can be performed.

Bringing her favorite book of bread and immediately being teased by Chirp, she set off west with the group. Shortly, as they reached the veil they discovered Bora already there, having traveled incredibly by foot, seeking a stone to perform the ritual. Assisted by Finch, the party cobbled together what was needed to perform the ritual. To Murray's chagrin, the process involved turning right, with which he needed ample assistance from Ella. Nonetheless the path to Celhani was opened and the party was greeted at the bridge by boar-mounted guards who recognized Bora immediately, but not before Bora had a sudden alignment shift and challenged one of the guards to a duel! The blasting boards were primed, shots were fired, arms were wrestled, and Bora eeked out a victory over the burly gnome who slapped her thigh because he's this big and embraced her as an old friend.

Proceeding into the city, the party was taken to the home of Nebkim and his husband Milvert. Sharing their ill omens, they were dismissed by Nebkim who showed them the *mirror roots*, the magical element protecting Celhani from being located back in Borros. However as Murray and Chirp noticed, there was a small infection of some sort within the roots which prompted Nebkim to run north to the university. Meanwhile Finch stole all of the bread in the entire world, Ella invented pizza and the party was divided on whether fruit should be placed upon it.

The sky darkened (maybe because they put fruit on the pizza) and the protective spell surrounding Celhani was breached. Nebkim rushed back in and Murray - as Dasle - attempted to heal the fracturing mirror roots, inadvertently taking its power within her. Around this time both Rodney and Noodle were released to assist the town, taking off in opposite directions. Proceeding outside, the party saw Kossai soldiers with torches at the border moving steadily inward. In moments they were setting upon the townspeople and razing buildings to the ground.

The party leapt into action with Bora and Ella taking off to Bora's parents' house to ensure they were alright. The rest of the party came face to face with the ever more terrifying visage of Loša (who they always call "Lotion" which makes her very cross) empowered by some unnatural ability. She set upon them, each blow dealing unbelievable damage. Finch managed to sneak around, sticking a whisper wind sticky note on her back and stabbing her repeatedly before herself being blasted. The fight wore on, Bora and Ella diving into the mix. The crew took some serious licks with Finch, Chirp and Dasle especially ending up bleeding out darn near everywhere, but Loša was ultimately defeated, being sucked away into a singularity but not before blasting Dasle with a beam of energy that, combined with the fey power of Celhani caused her wings to erupt.

But the Kossai marched on and the sacking of the city continued. Gnomes were being marched out to the secret tunnels to escape the city, with Philemon apparently happening upon the corpses of a dozen Kossai in order to assist the gnome's escape (which he had nothing to do with of course). Fleeing through the non-euclidean tunnels - and leaving Rodney and Noodle behind by the way - the party soon came out into a field north of the city. Gnomes piled out and Finch beseeched Nebkim to bring the gnomes north to a safe haven designed by the Reading Club, centered in Goldsea Fields. It was too late for our heroes however, as the magic latent within Dasle erupted, drawing all of them into a faraway realm as Philemon pulled Finch back. The party found themselves within the feywild. And they're now level four.