Cumulative

Cumulative

If you notice that something important is not included in the brief recap and you think it should be, you can either make a comment or edit it. If wording is confusing or misleading feel free to fix that too.

Session 14:

   Session 15 began as the party was moving back toward Norhufa. With them were about a dozen people that they were escorting from the trold camp. **These people had been kidnapped and were essentially trapped in the trold village without a safe way to traverse the island and return home.** There were about a dozen of them, including a few children and an older half-elf named **Sihinion**.

   During their trip, the party encountered a ghost a ways ahead. Angelina rushed up to greet it and was possessed. After possessing her, it began to move (in Angelina’s body) away from the party.

    **Once Angelina became unresponsive, Langar tried to stop her. Angelina became violent toward the party at this point,** and lashed out at Langar and Solla. She was eventually restrained, at this point the ghost left her body and attacked the party itself. It chose Langar as a focus for a final fight, and attacked him relentlessly until it was eventually turned away by Vjenga’s holy symbol and fled into the ground.

   After regrouping with the dozen people in their escort, the party finished the walk to Norhufa. They were greeted by **Mavis**, the leader of the village, who was very thankful for the safe return of their citizens.

    **The party learned from Sihinionthat he is an emissary for the Queen of Green Lights,** he was meant to provide help to the village but was prevented from doing so while detained by the [[trold]]. He offered to help the party and to contribute to Norhufa’s fortification.

   Before the party turned in for the night, Langar asked Sihinionabout **Jongar Bonebreaker. They were hired by someone to take over a city in The Green Lights, around the Northern Peaks.**

 Langar carved some special items out of wood, Solla and Venphira had strange dreams, and the party took a long rest.

Session 15:

    **Angelina was discovered unresponsive in her bed the next morning. Her chest and face components were both opened, and the crystal inside was fractured.** Whatever magic revivify had imbued her with when she last died somehow faded during the night, and left her dead in the morning.

   After being briefly immobilized by panic and dismay, the party discovered an etching on the inside of Angelina’s plates that read **“You should not see this. If you do, return me to Vostordon.”**

    Eager to restore their friend to health, the party set out to find passage to Vostordon. Langar intimidated Sihinioninto moving the party via teleportation circle. After a nauseating trip, the party arrived on the edge of Vostordon, and eventually found their way to Hugo’s home. Hugo initially rebuffed the party, but after hearing Angelina’s name, he allowed them entry.

   Understandably, Hugo is devastated. His (as the party understands it) daughter was dead, and he did not have the means to resurrect her. **He informed the party of a way to do so -- and mentioned that it required a very specific crystal. celadonite; the same variety that the party had seen cracked within Angelina’s chest.**

    To get it, the party is informed that they will have to travel to Mindabar. Hugo described this place as a nightmare. He gave the party a stone that allowed them to travel there but warned that it is incredibly dangerous, and they risk being killed in a number of different ways. He notably remarked that the party should not antagonize people with marks on their necks.

    As the party left his home, they noticed a photograph of Hugo and another woman. This other woman looked like Angelina in almost every way with the exception that she was human, and Angelina was an automaton.

    As they are leaving, Jinx also swipes a book, and eventually unloads it upon and pins the blame to Solla.

    **After some brief preparatory shopping and research, the party gathered outside the library at Vostordon, and focused on the stone to be transported to Mindabar.**

**The streets of Mindabar were as terrible as Hugo described. The streets were filled with chaotic violence and monstrous creatures. Jinx’s brief encounter with one of the hooded figures leading a cage through the desert, and the vision of a would-be attacker obliterated by a massive crossbow bolt asserted that the party was completely out of their element.**

Session 16:

 Shaken by Mindabar, the party hurriedly hunted for their objective with little success. **As the party looked around, they observed a mote of light rise from one of the nearby corpses and zip off toward the center of the city.**

Their search brought them to a tavern where the party found much more trouble than help -- though they did learn, by purchasing information from the bartender, that the soul they saw earlier was collected by the obelisk in the center of Mindabar for an unknown reason. Things turned rapidly for the worse when Kare tried to threaten the bartender. He was thrown out into the street, knocked unconscious, and robbed blind.

After the party helped him, they resolved to get off the street. Solla voiced some resistance to the idea of staying in Mindabar, and urged the party to leave. **The party deliberated. Langar and Solla mentioned to the party that they saw Hugo’s true form, that of a pit fiend, when he was alone with Angelina.v**

Because Kare was beaten and the party needed time to formulate a plan, they resolved to find a place to sleep, and stayed at an inn.

After arguing during their watch shift, Solla and Vjenga slept and were replaced on watch by Kare and Sylvi, and then Venphira and Langar.

   During the last watch, a goblin snuck in through the window undetected, and stabbed Vjenga in the throat, leaving her unconscious. In the ensuing fight, a table is crushed, a bed is flipped, and Kare briefly dies.

**Kare had a vision of a massive black wyrm in a sea of sand**, which bore down on him. He also sees a bead of light which approached him before smacking into his chest as he awoke. Kare was resurrected by Vjenga using the Oakwood Family Jewels, and found himself in the company of a celestial weasel which rescued him from the wyrm.

**After setting Kare on the bed to rest, the party had a few hours to recover before being intruded upon again by a pit fiend, who instructed the party to come with them -- namely the people holding the Oakwood Family Jewels and Angelina’s (similar) amulet. They were told that “The Lady” wished to see them, and were escorted through the streets of Mindabar to a mansion that the party entered**

Session 17:

    The party was taken upstairs (past a violent orgy) and waited before being able to speak with **Luna Oakwood, a tiefling and the head of the Oakwood House.** In her office, they discussed potential ways that the party could negotiate for a celadonite crystal -- but none of them were attainable. The asking price in gold was far beyond anything the party would have been able to offer, and the alternatives were shot down by the party for being morally unacceptable.

   Surprisingly, Luna’s reaction to the party’s possession of two of her family’s artifacts was even-keeled. She seemed more saddened to know that they were in the hands of the party because, evidently, they were not alive anymore to bear the items themselves. She offered the party a discount on the celadonite in exchange for the amulets, but the price was still far too steep.

    **Ultimately, the party was unable to make an agreement with Luna.** They were about to leave when they were ushered into another strange room, and provided with an alternative offer.

    Athanasi, Luna’s adult child, offered the party another deal -- outlined in a contract. **The first stipulation of said contract was that, upon the assassination of Luna, the party would receive a celadonite crystal.** The contract had two more tiers, with more severe consequences and rewards respectively.

    **The party debated over whether the contract should be signed, and later who should sign it.  The choice eventually fell to Langar, who signed the paper and watched the contract burn up as it was sealed.**

 With a contract to fulfil, the party was instructed to leave and get to their task. They acquired poison and planned to send Venphira in with wine to seduce and assassinate Luna. This plan failed -- Luna resisted the effect of the poison and attacked Venphira. The party, blocked from entering through the door by another pit fiend, was forced to fight their way through. **The pit fiend outmatched them handily, and Langar ultimately ended up invoking the second pact of the contract to get reinforcements.  With this brief edge and a very lucky break, the party was able to enter just as Venphira killed Luna, and with their celadonite as well as a stone similar to the one that first brought them there, they escaped from Mindabar.**

Session 18:

    The party arrived in Vostordon after being transported from Mindabar. Exhausted and overwhelmed, they spent some time catching their breath on the outskirts of the town before heading inside.

   Upon finishing their rest, the party discovered that the circus was in town. They found brief respite from the events of the day in the many multicolored tents. Langar was successful in a game of strength, Venphira gambled away Sylvi’s money, **and some of the party purchased magical goods from a hooded figure in a green and white tent.**

    One of the ringleaders, Mr. Memia, soon summoned the visitors of the circus to the central tent for the final event of the night. Once the party reunited and settled into their seats near the back, they were treated to an impressive show of acrobatics and storytelling.

   Near the end of the performance, their enjoyment was interrupted by an explosion from a part of the tent. As part of the tent crumpled away, a noxious fog diffused through it, and some of the animals in the circus **(which were marked with various tattoos that the party was familiar with)** began to wander toward the crowd. Some of the creatures then exploded, and from their backs burst ghouls, and gas like that which appeared during the first explosion. **Circus-goers that were struck with this gas quickly died and became deteriorating, zombified monsters. From the back of a bear climbed a flesh golem. In the ensuing fight with these monsters, Kare and Langar were sprayed by fluids from the inside of the flesh golem.**

 After the party defeated the undead, Mr. Memia tried unsuccessfully to cure Kare and Langar of a disease they incurred by being sprayed. **The party would later discover that this disease was vampirism.**

**The party was paid off to keep their mouth’s shut about the disaster of the night,** and the circus quickly vanished. As it did so, faint whispers and laughter could be heard -- **some of which were familiar to Jinx.** The session ended as the party returned to The Gentle Lyre for some much needed rest.

Session 19:

    **The session began with the party’s realization that Kare (and later Langar) were afflicted with vampirism.** They eventually settled into bed and relationship drama between Sylvi and Venphira ensued. After resting, they discovered Langar, immobile in eternal sleep on his bed. **Eternal sleep is a state vampires enter when they are subjected to something that would kill a regular person, or are starved of the blood they subsist on.** They were able to feed and resuscitate him with help from the Olivier family butler, Leonidas Totaides. **Leonidas revealed that he had been tasked with tracking the party down to invite the Olivier twins to their family home for a party in their honor. He also revealed that he keeps blood on his person as a protection from “workplace hazards*.***

    Kare and Sylvi were initially apprehensive, mentioning that their relationship with their parents had previously been rocky. They talked with Leonidas and concluded that they needed time to settle on whether to return for their celebration.

    **As Langar stirred, the party divided up the gold they accrued both from Mr. Memia and from armor sales by Solla**. They then split up and the remainder of the session was spent purchasing a variety of items, including a magic expanding pole, spell components, and some terrible, terrible shoes.

    Solla, Venphira and Vjenga spent some time at the end of the day at the Sun Soul Library. **Venphira learned relevant information about the Nidhogg, which was described similarly to the creature she had encountered in repeated nightmares.** Solla expanded their knowledge of draconic variety by reading another book by Kevin Ashton. Vjenga read up on the worship of Hel, the origin of her mark, and visited The Gate of the Gods. **The party learned that The Gate of the Gods was representative of the passing of seasons, and because of fimbulvetr, it has been in disuse for a long time.** Before the session ended, she also observed another mysterious statue behind the gate, which resembled a moth with a crown.

Session 20:

   Later, the party resolved to pass the time while the Olivier twins reached a conclusion regarding whether they’d return to their family home. Jinx and Venphira tried to steal a horse and were thwarted by the party’s resident square.

Solla, exhausted, urged the party to return to their rooms for the night. They returned to the tavern, and Solla went to bed. Venphira left to collect the rest of the party from Leonidas’s wagon while Jinx and Vjenga got rooms and ale for the party. While talking to the barkeep, Jinx was asked if she is a member of The Warrens, which she declined. **The Warrens is a criminal organization of Rabbitfolk that was formed originally to help them consolidate power and protect them from abuse.**

While Jinx and Vjenga were waiting in the tavern, Venphira returned to the wagon where Leonidas offered to return the sleeping Kare and Langar to the tavern. Venphira blew him off in favor of continuing her search for Sylvi. **After she left, Kare woke and had a short conversation with Leonidas, wherein he was addressed as Sir Lumleys. Kare did not react to this, and said that he had reached a decision to return to his family.**

Jinx overestimated her alcohol tolerance and was very inebriated after one drink. Despite this, she was still able to lead Vjenga to Venphira once the two of them decided that their wait had gone on too long. Venphira had been unable to locate Sylvi.

   Fortunately, the party of three was shortly found by Leonidas, **who proved to be a much better tracker than any of them**. **He was able to locate Sylvi by smell,** which Vjenga noticed, and then lead them on the wagon through the woods to find her.

   After collecting Sylvi, who had been seated alone in the woods to think, she agreed with Kare’s decision to return home. **She seemed contemplative and quiet.** Before they left, the party decided to spend one more night in Vostordon to rest. They turned in for the night, but not before Kare got an earful from Vjenga about acting like a jackass.

    **During the night, Solla had a dream wherein their family and home was consumed by amber and the silhouette of a dragon.** When they woke, they purchased tobacco for their pipe, meditated on the dream outside the tavern, and discovered some of Vjenga’s fallen letters.

   While this was happening, Kare unsuccessfully searched for a source of fresh blood, and instead drank the blood given to him by Leonidas.

Solla returned Vjenga’s letters to her, and the two of them retrieved Venphira, who cut her hair that morning. **The party boarded the wagon and set off for Greytown**. On the road, they had a brief friendly encounter with a band of Firbolgs called Buffalo Springfield, who were traveling in the opposite direction.

Session 21:

    The session picked up immediately after the BS encounter. Vjenga had a conversation with Leonidas at the front of the wagon, and asked about his skill and swiftness in locating the Kare and Sylvi. He shared with her his **Orb of Scrying**, which allows the user to peer down upon a person they focus on. He explained that it was useful in finding the Lumleys children, and offered Vjenga a try. Vjenga was glad to use it. She tried to locate her sisters, Erva and Ylda.

    She was able to see them, but the situation she found them in was not relieving. **Both sisters had been petrified, and were sequestered inside a partially destroyed castle in an unidentified location.** They were not alone, surrounded by other stone figures. The texture of the stone was similar to that seen when Eikthyr petrified a Bleeder.

    As she looked around the room, Vjenga met the eyes of a gigantic snake as it looked in through the wall. Her vision ended and, crestfallen, she returned the stone to Leonidas.

   After Vjenga rejoined the party in the back of the wagon, Langar took his chance to speak to Leonidas. **He inquired about Leonidas’s knowledge of vampirism, and learned that vampires are not uncommon where Leonidas is from.** He also asked about Jongar, who Leonidas didn’t know much about. **Leonidas informed Langar that he might be able to get help regarding Vampirism from the Lumleys.** **Sir Lumleys is a vampire, and he collects donations from the people of Grey Town to keep his appetite for blood sated.** After learning this, Langar thanked Leonidas and returned to the back of the wagon.

    As this happened, Venphira moved closer to Sylvi to take her hand. She asked Sylvi how she was feeling with respect to seeing her family again. **Sylvi replied that she wasn’t sure how to feel, as she hadn’t seen her parents in a long time, and didn’t really know them**. Venphira reminded Sylvi that she’d be present for her regardless, and squeezed her hand.

Meanwhile, Jinx decided to use her Vizer card (grants a truthful answer to any question) to query the gods. **She asked “Are they alive?” and received an affirmative reply.** While she received her reply, her vision was flooded with amber and she could hear screams she did not recognize. Presumably these voices are those of the gods.

Jinx offered the Deck of Many Things to Sylvi, who decided to take a card. **She pulled Gem, and was magically presented with 50k GP worth of crystals, which appeared in her bag**. This quickly got the party’s attention, and they discussed the cards. Jinx encouraged the party to continue pulling from the deck, and Vjenga was apprehensive.

Langar pulled a card next, and received Ruin. **All of his magical possessions and all of his material wealth vanished.** As Sylvi reassured him that they could replace his lost belongings with her newfound wealth, Kare picked a card.

Kare drew the Void. As soon as he looked at the card, his soul was ripped away from him. The party watched him collapse on the floor of the wagon. When Vjenga looked him over, she concluded that he wasn’t exactly dead (any more so than when he became a vampire), and was closer to comatose. Langar poured a vial of blood into his mouth to try to resuscitate him, and it had no effect. The party cried out for Leonidas to stop the cart.

When he joined them in the back, he was initially confused. He seemed to think that Kare was dead and initially set about digging a grave on the side of the road (what a go-getter). After Vjenga told him that Kare was not dead, he had a closer look, and investigated the cards. Leonidas seemed to understand the dangerous nature of the cards, and confiscated them from the party. After some discussion, they agreed to take Kare’s body back to the Lumleys.

As the party tries to console Sylvi, Langar pipes up. He says that the party will return Kare’s soul and destroy whatever took it. **Leonidas says that the card is already destroyed, it’s the creatures guarding Kare’s taken soul that the party would have to contend with.**

Three days passed on the road, during which time Langar carved tokens with Angelina’s name for the party. During this time Venphira also decided to speak to Leonidas. **She asked first about Leonidas’s history with the Lumleys family, and learned that he had been working on-and-off with them for a long time. The Lumleys helped him when he needed it after the death of his group. Venphira was not pleased by this answer, and called him “another ignorant victim of the Lumleys’s Charm”.**

After a conversation about the logistics of crossing the border, the party was stopped by a group who appeared injured and cried out for help. They narrowly avoided walking into an ambush, thanks to Langar’s suspicion of the people who were apparently injured. He lethally interrogated one of them, and bled them dry. After seeing this, the other bandits were eager to cooperate, and led the party back to the bandit hideout.

Here, they had a group of nobles and a mountain half-jotuncaptive. After EXTREMELY prolonged negotiation and some very fortunate intimidation on the part of Langar, they released their captives. The nobles returned with Vjenga and Solla to the wagon, and the remainder of the party continued to deliberate (bicker) over whether to kill the bandits. When they *finally* leave and return to the wagon, the party sets off toward the Lumleys.

They stopped in Lagrheimr to drop off the rescued nobles. As Vjenga spoke to one of the nobles who paid them for their safe return, the noble asked for a name to call the party.

Session 22:

    **The session begins when Vjenga gives the noble the party name “The Deliberators”.** During a very brief stay in Lagrheimr, some of them also saw the same group of bandits they’d encountered before entering a building with a sign that said “The Lightbringer Brigade*. Once they got back on the road, the Vjenga and Langar had a conversation about his recent vampiric changes. She observes by listening that his heartbeat is much slower, and they discussed future sources of blood for Langar. **The two of them agreed that in the future, without access to the Lumleys’s supply, they would need to donate to sustain him.***

   When Leonidas chimed in that Sir and Madam Lumleys might be able to help, Vjenga was put off by the name change. Leonidas was similarly confused when Vjenga mentioned the name Olivier, he said it wasn’t familiar to him. **Apparently, the name Olivier was devised by Sylvi and Kare to separate themselves from their parents when they were sent away. Their parents sent them to a temple to Frigg located in Thorath.**

    **Venphira mentioned a distrust of the Lumleys, and when pressed for an explanation, explained that they were responsible for the deaths of her family**. She described it as a betrayal and a slaughter. This obviously didn’t track with Leonidas’s understanding of the family, who he notes have been nothing but helpful to Grey Town in their rule.

**He also mentioned that there *is* another surviving member of the Vidal family, Nanna, who now works under the Lumleys as he does.** Leonidas seems to be as forthcoming as he can be about the situation. If what he said about the Lumleys is untrue, he doesn’t know it.

    Langar seemed concerned that the Lumleys would recognize Venphira, and asked if there were any additional issues with the Lumleys family. In response, Vjenga mentioned her run-in with one of their workers, Ketil. **She, Barlen, and Gunborg disrupted his business on a farm, but they don’t know the extent of this issue or whether it’s a problem to the Lumleys.**

    Solla was also apprehensive about seeing the Lumleys because of a misunderstanding between themselves and Venphira. Leonidas assured them that they had nothing to worry about, as the **Lumleys were on good terms with a clan of dragonborn to the south.**

    In discussion of the party’s trip to The Green Lights, Langar mentions his issue with Jongar Bonebreaker. Jongar led a raid on Langar’s village, near Molgor, when he was approximately 15. **According to Langar, Jongar has “hurt everyone close to him.”** Lot of family deaths this session.

    Venphira seemed unconvinced that her sister, Nanna, could have survived the Lumleys's betrayal. She eventually tried to see her sister through Leonidas’s Orb of Scrying, but was unsuccessful. That night, Vjenga lent her the Mug of the Visitor so that she might see her sister in her dreams. **Venphira was unable to get in contact with Nanna, and instead had a vision of the Lumleys family.**

 After waking and being consoled by the party, Venphira says she’ll split off when they arrive in Grey Town. Jinx says she’ll go with her, and promises to keep the two of them out of trouble.

    The party travels through customs and through The Green Lights with no issue. Vjenga receives some letters in the meantime.

When they arrive, the party sees The Iron Lake in passing, and is quickly ushered to the Lumleys’s castle. The party split up as agreed previously, and Jinx promised to stay out of trouble.

As most of the party passed through the entrance to the Lumleys’s castle, they encountered another group of mercenaries on their way out: a tortle, a dvergr, and a dragonborn. They eventually found themselves in a dining room, and met Qo. Qo was described as a wispy person, and is an air genasi**. Air genasi are usually created for a specific purpose, and they disappear when they complete that purpose. They are usually made by personifications of hunting or winter, like Skaði or Ullr.**

After greeting Qo, the party took their seats. Solla received a letter from the dragonborn that they passed in the castle halls, Guldrad. **The letter was an invitation to a wedding between Rösk and Esirar.** Receiving the letter made Solla anxious, and eager to leave. They did not have time to do so, as shortly after this the Lumleys arrived.

Introduced by Leonidas, Sir and Madam Lumleys (Ulfred and Morgana), greeted the party. They seemed delighted to greet their daughter, though Sylvi didn’t reciprocate. **They asked where Kare was, and were devastated when they were informed that he was indefinitely incapacitated.** After reassuring one another that they’ll find a way to recover their son, they sat down to eat with the party.

Several things were discussed over the course of the meal. **Ulfred suggested that Qo join the present party, and expresses sympathy for the misfortune that befell his previous team.** Langar also brought up his vampirism, and asked firstly about a cure. A cure may be available, but it is in Arkadia and thus inaccessible to the party. Ulfred suggests that it would be better to focus on finding a continual source of blood.

    **Jongar Bonebreaker also came up in conversation. He works for the Lumleys, and they seemed to be approving of his speed in retrieving the items they requested.** The Lumleys don’t seem suspicious or agitated when Langar continues asking questions about Jongar.

    Solla asked about the Lumleys’s business with the dragonborn colony to the south. The Lumleys told the party, in response, the same information that Leonidas did previously.

    **Meanwhile, Venphira and Jinx deliberate in Grey Town proper. They decide to make their way toward the castle to scout it out. As they do this, Langar and Qo are offered an item from the treasury, and led off.**

Session 23:

    **Langar returns alone after picking up his spear tip, to Ulfred talking to Vjenga. She has some compliments for the Lumleys siblings, and some… other words, for Kare.** **Ulfred sympathises.** Meanwhile, Jinx leaves Venphira’s side to go “scout out” the castle as Venphira notices a familiar face, Lothtr Weillardson, rushing into a tavern. They see a few patrons, though not Lothtr. They go through some shenanigans, (Food Comas, scaring a quarter-elven bartender teenager in a casino), and find Lothtr in the kitchen. **They find Lothtr (Beer belly, large beard, man door hand hook car door) cooking up some smoked salmon with lemon, which they smell as they enter the kitchen.** Lothtr has a hard time believing it is her. Venphira is also surprised he is alive. Lothtr bearhugs Venphira, who reciprocates somewhat, in a restrained state. Through tears, he is glad to see the dynasty isn’t fully gone, a family he has served for centuries (?!). Venphira asks if she is by herself, Venphira says no, and explains the dinner situation. **Lothtr says they should stay at The Iron Tavern, and to tell the Lumleys that he wants to extend his gratitude to guests of the family, but tells Venphira to reunite with their party to keep suspicions low.** As they walk through the city, Venphira sees a few people whose amber eyes are emitting wisps in the same way that The Phantom Queen’s did. **Back at the dinner, Solla tries to lie and can’t think of one in time, Ulfred skips over them to give them time.** Ulfred turns to Ymna, and Ymna spills the beans on Langar, deciding to follow. **Ulfred realises he has a living legend in his midst and explains the Queen is extremely interested in seeing him.** They talk about family for a bit and Ulfred portrays his excitement in seeing Sylvi and Kare (:pensive:) again. **Vjenga asks Ulfred why Sylvi and Kare were far from home for so long.** Sylvi is uncomfortable, and Ulfred chimes in saying that they weren’t sure how to raise their twins, so sent them to a private education in order to be safe. Ulfred goes on to tell how Eikthyr is an engineered creature, given Ulfred and Morgana’s blood so that he can connect Sylvi and Kare to their parents, as well as protect them. Solla asks if Eikthyr understands common, and Ulfred tickles Eikthyr for SOME FUCKIN REASON, AND EIKTHYR JUST LETS OUT THIS CREEPY ASS LAUGH. Sylvi seems shocked, but Vjenga says that most dogs understand Common. Solla does not understand that dogs are fairly commonplace. **Ulfred comes back to Solla**. Solla said they were following a friend, and met the rest of the party at a fortress. **Ulfred wonders if Solla must be excited, as there is a “big thing” happening with dragonborns coming up, that Ulfred doesn’t know much about.** Solla isn’t telling, but asks if dragonborns are born from Eggs. Ulfred has no fuckin clue. Solla asks if they got more pets, and they have HELLA, though not like Eikthyr. **Vjenga asks about Ulfred after he mentions Vampires can change shape.** She asks if all Vampires can turn into beasts, Ulfred says no - not those who have recently changed. **Solla asks if Morgana is giantkin, she says no.** Giants don’t really exist in Arkadia, they have titans, and passionately explains the myth of Typhon. **THEY GOT A WHOLE VASE WITH THIS DUDE**. Solla asks if she got her knowledge from a monastery. She says no, a pattern is forming. Though there are monasteries in Arkadia, her knowledge seems to be self-gathered. **Vjenga touches upon the Vidal sized elephant in the room, and Ulfred seems very open about the tragic death of the Vidal family.** “Seems”, though there was some *wordplay* around their ignorance of the Vidal family’s passing. Langar asks if he hatched from an egg. This is a weird subject for dinner, but Vjenga is more than happy to oblige the juicy details on mammal eggs and menstruation. **Ulfred explains how this dinner was simply to see their children, as well as to get them properly dressed for the party at Queen Bergljot’s Palace in Thorath**. The party can be expected to meet and greet the council, including Sihinion; a brief respite in the sea of heavy tension. **Venphira arrives at the gates without Jinx, she is greeted at the door by Nanna. She notices new features as Nanna urges her to follow into the Lumleys castle.** Venphira wants to know if it’s really her and grabs her wrist. Nanna says yes and to follow her inside. Venphira seems content with the response that there will be time to talk later, in the same way Ulfred seems open about the tragic death of the Vidal family. **Venphira walks in to see the Lumleys tear up as they see Venphira, surprised! They’ve heard of their survival from Leonidas, but are still shocked.** Venphira sits next to Sylvi, and the Lumleys consider hugging them but think better of it. They are pleased to see another Vidal survive. **The Lumleys offer for the party to stay in the castle. Venphira declines and says she has already made arrangements to stay in The Iron Tavern.** Vjenga asks if Sylvi will join the party, she says yes. Leaving the castle, Vjenga worries where Jinx is when Venphira is unable to disclose her whereabouts, presumably ensuing hiJinx. **Solla asks where the locations of the Valkyrie items, to which the Lumleys show the party. One is in the mountain’s near Maerin, another is in Hannon Forest, and the last is by Oakwatch.** There seems to be a plague in the area near Hannon Forest, Ulfred says it may be due to the curse of a madman. It is one of the main reasons Jongar avoids that area. They say Oakwatch is already laid-claim-to by Rösk. They are familiar to Solla and the leader of this dragonborn Troupe. They have not found it but have told the Lumleys that they want it. They are also unaware of the situation in Boundless Stronghold, news travels slowly from there. **The rest of the party is led out of the building, Langar hangs back to talk to Ulfred about Johannes Goldenheart.** Ulfred states they should be there, as they have made “quite a name for himself”. **The rest of the party is outside, Venphira gets Vjenga’s attention and says Jinx may be scouting around outside.** Vjenga is peeved and gives Venphira a hard time for not keeping a closer eye on her. Jinx lands on Venphira’s neck (Revenant’s dream) from somewhere up on the wall. Vjenga gets JUMPED on, and interrogating her, Jinx admits they went “Window Shopping”, but nothing was taken as Jinx could not get in. Vjenga tries to enforce the fact that the Lumleys are a bad group to be caught by, but Jinx confidently (or arrogantly) dismisses her worries, telling Vjenga that they’ll prolly need to break in anyways. **Leonidas walks all the way back to The Iron Tavern to go back to the castle. Langar gets a few more vials of blood before leaving.** Lothtr is with a halfing who is carrying the SHIT out of several trays and carrying them through the tavern, and is introduced by Venphira to the party. They get six rooms, 5, 7, 8, and 9. **Room 6 is taken.** Venphira asks if now is a good time to talk, but Lothtr says not yet, and invites the party to enjoy the tavern. They mention a temple to Tyr that they are helping renovate, and asks if the party can help clear them out, an offer Vjenga takes them up on. Ymna shakes the hand hook??? Lothtr explains that they lost the hand in a gambling match with cheaters. Langar asks about how he’d heard of him, Ymna spills the beans about a family friend who told him about a stubborn dickhead soldier who wouldn’t take off his armor. Ymna’s group, The Erfi, gradually split up. **LANGAR MAKES A JOOOOKKKKEEE**, Vjenga is the proud mother. He is still struggling with Knock Knock jokes. **Ghosts CLEARED PETERGRIFFIN2005 DEAD**, Langar JUMPS through a window after staying back to not be harmed by Vjenga’s Ghost-Be-Gone abilities, then hearing Vjenga’s voice THROUGH A LOUD TAVERN AND A TEMPLE. Claude sucks some wraiths clean up like Kirby. Venphira goes into a booth talking through their thoughts, an odd move from a warlock who doesn’t believe in the Aesir or Vanir. Jinx uses Minor Illusion to make an old man say “You are forgiven…” AND IT WORKS! Venphira believes this is the Allfather forgiving her, and has a touching experience. JINX DOESN’T GET CAUGHT. All the Ghostbusters return and Lothtr thanks them for the help. Vjenga pays 25gp for the window, and Langar gives him more gold. The party sleeps, mimimimimimimimimimimimi

Session 24:

   That night, Venphira dreamt of her patron. Níðhöggr was still imprisoned beneath the roots of the tree, and she could see its familiar eyes peering out at her. Níðhöggr urged her to take revenge on the Lumleys family, and presented her with an opportunity to do so in her dream. Ulfred, Morgana, Nanna, and Leonidas were visible in outline. Her patron gave her with an opportunity to attack them where they kneeled, but Venphira hesitated and said she lacked information. **Níðhöggr told her that faltering and a failure to act would only lead to her own suffering. To free both of them, she must not hesitate. Níðhöggr repeated its previous call for freedom as Venphira woke in the cuddle puddle.**

   Standing over her was Lothtr, who said he needed to speak with her, and asked if she could trust her friends. After confirming this, they woke Vjenga and Sylvi. The four of them also retrieved Ymna before following Lothtr down the stairs.

    Out in the street, the party could see a tall, shambling shape. Its eyes cast cones of light as it peered in through the window over the tavern. The party did not seem to be detected, possibly thanks to a censer carried by Lothtr as they descended into the basement. When asked, **Lothtr said that they did not understand the nature of the creatures they saw in the street, only that they appeared after the Lumleys took over.**

    The group reached the basement, and as Lothtr closed the hatch they were plunged into darkness. When he lit a lantern, the basement was illuminated. The party could see that there were rows of hooded, masked figures with their weapons trained.

    **Lothtr said that they needed to be sure they could trust the party, as their closeness to the Lumleys so far has cast their reliability into doubt.** Vjenga, Sylvi, and finally Venphira assure them that they are not cooperating with the Lumleys. Apparently convinced, Lothtr told the figures around the room to lower their weapons and brought out a tablet for the party to sit.

   Once seated, he began to explain that this group of people gathered in the basement has been working against the Lumleys for several years. **When Ulfred and Morgana leave Grey Town to attend the Queen’s party with the group, they will have an opportune time to strike.**

    Venphira was completely on board with this plan, though Vjenga seemed concerned that they were cooperating without knowing the scope of the plan. Lothtr said they would instruct the party further when they can.

Nanna, who has been working covertly under the Lumleys’s since being resuscitated by Lothtr, seems well-informed of the inner workings of their castle. **She plans to use this information as well as her influence over the other servants to give the party access to the Lumleys when they are at their weakest.**

**While the resistance is taking advantage of Ulfred and Morgana’s absence, the party will be with them at Queen Bergljot’s castle.** Lothtr noted that the castle may have recently had some measure of **anti-magic** installed, but he doesn’t know the extent of it or whether it’s certain.

**This entire time, Venphira seemed very convicted in joining the plan. She wanted everyone in the party to agree that no member of the Lumleys, other than Sylvi or Kare, would be spared.** She wanted to make them suffer in the same way that the Vidals suffered. Both Vjenga and Lothtr seemed unwilling to cast that blanket, as the Lumleys family’s influence (magical and charismatic) has allowed them to mislead much of Grey Town. To kill anyone working under them would be punishing a lot of people who were already victims of deception.

Lothtr also told the party that he was responsible for finding them suitable clothing to attend the party**. Party members need to get back to him by the end of the day with information about what they want to wear.** Vjenga asked at this time about Langar and his armor, which was apparently familiar to Lothtr. He had been a member of the military, and heard of a dickhead who wouldn’t remove his armor. Apparently, this rebelliousness is an aspect of Langar that the Queen appreciates.

**Lothtr gave the party a sending stone, which is now in the possession of Sylvi.** She tested with an unusual choice of wording, noticed by Nanna.

**Also in Grey Town are Duke Kragen and Duchess Zafrina**, who both played significant parts in the betrayal of the Vidals. This is the statement of Lothtr, though he can’t provide any information about what they did.

As the party prepared to leave, Vjenga asked Ymna how he felt about this situation, and Ymna’s response was unsatisfactory. Lothtr cast a geas to influence Ymna’s mind and prevent him under threat of harm from sharing the resistance’s information, or touching the Deck of Many Things. The party returned to bed after a close shave with some fearsome stair noises.

That morning, they party ate breakfast and split up. Langar slept in, and Vjenga checked on him. Solla went off on their own to meditate. The remaining members accompanied Sylvi as she sold her quarry from the Gem card to a local jeweler, Zilyana, at The Heavenly Prospect. **Sylvi gave her newly acquired Bag of Holding for Vjenga to manage, as well as the platinum pieces the party received**. Vjenga did some further component shopping, and later in the day was stopped by Solla for conversation.

They exchanged information about Vjenga’s recent letters to Karli and Gunborg, the latter who she worries about. Gunborg has not responded to recent letters, and is in the area of one of the artifacts the Lumleys are searching for. **Solla also opened up about their past (with considerable pressure), and told Vjenga about the assassination of their parents, and their confusion after seeing their thought-dead mother’s name on a wedding invitation.**

Vjenga encouraged Solla to tell the party about this, if they want to head south for said wedding. Solla agreed, and after an awkward exchange about Vjenga’s hair, they separated.