Session 51 - Vengeance

This is the 51st session of Ashes.

## Summary

After enjoying breakfast in the Yeti village the party made their way back towards Coldport and began discussing between Zillian and Zaun who should get the White Dragon Egg. After some deliberation the party thought it was best to give the Egg to Zaun, since he could give the party access to the Teleportation Circle of the Hemlock and Hawthorn School of Sorcery.

The party had a choice when it reached nightfall and Coldport was within walking distance, whether or not they wanted to enter the city now a little exhausted, or sleep outside of the city. The party chose to rest outside of the city, and Autumn told everyone everything he knows about the Ruby Menagerie. He told them about his brother Elm and friend Vivas being party of the gang. And that he wants to keep running from them. Emeran countered this line of reasoning, talking about his own journey and that he's choosing finally to run towards his problems. And further discussion was had before the night closed.

The party woke the next day and went to see Zaun and Nikita at the H&H SoS. They gave the egg to Zaun, and told them what they knew from Zillian. Zaun warned them that they might have made an enemy of Zillian's and should go get his blessing before they leave, since he owns the docks. Zaun mentioned he had transport in mind, a ship called the Dragonfly, but that Zillian may provide a better ship. Zaun give them the information they asked for. Strauss had left Coldport and was making his way to one of the Shadow Isles named Palakros because it had something to do with the Cult of Vescea. The party learned some history and rumor about the Shadow Isles and Palakros specifically. They learned that after the Great Fall the once prosperous islands were stricken with a series of compounding curses, creating the Shadow Isles we know today. Palakros's story is that the Champion of the Island, its leader both politically and religiously, was caught having an illicit affair with a vexing noblewoman of the island by the Champion's wife. This transgression was felt by the whole island, and the acropolis on high crumbled and decayed. The Champion was sundered limb from limb, pieces scattering across the whole island, and the Vexing woman in her vanity was turned into a great beast, and the two still live on the island, forever trapped in their conditions.

Zaun gave Acaelus the teleportation circle for the school, and the party handed over the egg noting that Zaun seemed to be relieved, Autumn catching that he is probably returning it to who it belongs.

The meet with Zillian, who is pretty disappointed that they gave the Egg to Zaun, and the party negotiates an amount of gold to give Zillian to appease him, settling on 14k gold. Zillian shares a drink with the party and arranges travel for the party, settling on a Fat Elf, with a female named ship. Zillian asks Autumn to stay back and play him one last song, and Zillian talks about bards he once knew and about swan songs.

The party meets the 'Fat Elf' after being pointed in the right direction by Demetri. The Elf is named Othen Naverette, a once proud merchant who has fallen on hard times and owes Zillian a debt. The party steps onto the ship called Naline, and are lead downstairs to their luxury rooms. The party eventually finds sleep, some more restful than others . . .

Autumn dreams of the Long Summer, and sees his village getting destroyed along with his brother Elm. He sees the Vicar of Tongues present and watching the event take place, and when he looks at Autumn he awakens. Autumn wakes tied up in his cabin. The room is completely silent. The Ruby Menagerie are all inside the room, along with some strange grotesque creatures. Autumn sees Elm, Vivas, and begins speaking with Welch telepathically. Welch tells him that he doesn't really care that Autumn killed Korak, but he couldn't resist the opportunity to kill him when an 'old friend' came back. Stepping into vision, and the source of the foul Seawater stench, is Joni come back as an undead Revenant.

Autumn manages to feel around for his locket and releases the Unicorn Fenny to go warn the party. Fenny runs through a Ruby Menagerie member and bursts through the door. The party wakes and does battle with the Menagerie and the Revenant Joni. In the process Autumn dies, and the party continues fighting. The strange Ogre they found in the basement fights against the Menagerie as well. Acaelus inadvertently kills Elm, and purposely kills a surrendering Menagerie member. The party wins the fight. Elias reaches Autumn and casts Revivify, succeeding, and Autumn sees Elm's dead body, using Revivify on him and bringing him back as well. Autumn then embraces Elm and Vivas as the session ends.