Blood Moon Over Alcamar Part 2

*"Three heads of the servants, two hands of the masters and a heart of a mother; Those are the components we need to break the ritual." - Brett Jermaine*

## Overview

### The battle above the moon:

After the events of Blood Moon Over Alcamar Part 1, Brett Jermaine came to a realisation that the group have not checked for signs of undeath amongst the survivors. The group hurried their way to the barricaded chapel to find the survivors safe and sound. Rhea broke the news of Sofiya to Ana Maria and Vord; There was a solemn moment of grief but the three composed themselves quickly not wanting to aggravate the already shaken crowd.

Natsu Dragoneel sensed an undead presence coming from the altar where the body of Akasha lies under a fine sheet of cloth. The group made a decision of taking the civilians to the kitchen and dealing with Akasha's body. Brett Jermaine and Rhea of House Aerindel led the civilians across the Blood Moon mosaic floor only to be alarmed by the opened door that leads to the stables and the sound of activity in the kitchen.

The rest of the mystwarders prepared themselves to engage the undead underneath the silvery funeral shroud. Natsu Dragoneel hovered his devil-touched sword over the body of akasha and plunged it through her chest in one quick decisive motion; A shriek became audible from under the shroud as it slowly began to deflate.

Meanwhile, Brett Jermaine ushered the civilians towards the dining room as Rhea of House Aerindel investigated the kitchen. To her surprise, she found her Aunt Althea and another figure scavenging through the kitchen. It became apparent that the aunt is now vampiric and the other figure was Anton, The recently deceased husband of Head Cook Rosalyn. Rhea of House Aerindel backed away but not before accidentally knocking over pots and pans alerting the two vampiric creatures. Rhea's aunt followed her towards the atrium but Anton circled around to get to the dining room. Rhea unleashed a shatter spell on her aunt in the hopes of alerting the group and attracting the attention of the other vampiric creatures.

Back in the chapel, Bryn Silvers and Wendell Archard unleashed a flurry of attacks as Natsu Dragoneel was enveloped by the mist coming from under the shroud. However, their attacks seemed to have inflicted minimal effect and the mist retreated through the gratings on the floor. Wendell Archard sent his drone to follow the mist as both Bryn Silvers and Natsu Dragoneel sprinted towards the source of the loud crashing sound.

The image of the blood moon emitted a crimson red light on the gruesome scene that greeted Bryn Silvers and Natsu Dragoneel. The vampiric Althea pinned and have taken a bite off an unfortunate young dignitary while Anton managed to pin Head Cook Rosalyn to the ground. Rhea of House Aerindel, quick on her feet, released a strong mobile flourish knocking Anton 12 feet back before he can cause harm to Head Cook Rosalyn. Bryn Silvers with much athleticism grappled and dragged Althea off the now bleeding dignitary. With the use of a healing spell, Brett Jermaine managed to stabilise the dying dignitary and and unceremoniously hurled the stunned Rosalyn into the dining room.

Rhea of House Aerindel, finding an opening as the ghostly hands of Wendell Archard's chill touch clung to Anton, slashed halfway through the vampiric Anton's neck with Sofiya (Bloodtouched Scimitar) and followed through with her other moontouched sword cutting through the remaining bones and flesh. Coagulated blood splattered across the mosaic tiles as the head detached from the body. Bryn Silvers held the vampiric Althea for dear life allowing Natsu Dragoneel to deliver a coup de grace. Althea's blood puddled around her head as her body disintegrated into dust.

> *"Goodbye Aunt 'Thea, say hello to mama and papa for me." -* words that resounded in Rhea of House Aerindel's mind as she saw what remained of her poor Aunt's corpse.
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### Identifying the source:

After dealing with the undead outside, Rhea of House Aerindel delivered the sad news about Althea to Elise, Ana Maria and Vord. Bryn Silvers casted detect magic in the dining room and caught a glimpse of necromancy emanating from Head Cook Rosalyn's apron pouch. Not wanting to confront Rosalyn in front of all the survivors, the party asked her to step out and have a word in private. The grief-stricken Rosalyn confessed to using a tome passed down from her dead aunt to resurrect her husband and unwittingly summoned the undead.

Brett Jermaine, being a cleric of life, identified that the ritual required a full moon, a source of power and a blood sacrifice (the cook used chicken's blood). Rosalyn confessed that she performed the circle in the basement, the party realised that the source of power is the moon pool near it. Rhea of House Aerindel, knowing that Rosalyn has a good track record and will never knowingly cause harm to anyone, decided that there will be no repercussion to Rosalyn and to keep it a secret; She did not want to lose a pillar of the community who is vital for the recovery of the College of Swords. Head Cook Rosalyn was sent back to the survivors with the full knowledge of the consequences of her actions. The burden of causing so much suffering was punishment enough for the poor unwilling accomplice to this massacre.

The group were alerted by Wendell Archard's drone confirming the whereabouts of the ritual circle. They decided to take a short rest and head down to the basement afterwards.

### Clash of blades:

The party descended into the damp basement devoid of light until Rhea of House Aerindel casted Daylight to illuminate her surrounding area. The party made their way through the corridor leading the the moon pool. Rhea wanted to finish the dedication of her remaining scimitar to the Moon and Bryn Silvers suggested to scout ahead of the group. As they entered the moon chamber, they are greeted with soft blue light emanating from a silvery pool of liquid so still it reflected like a mirror.

Bryn Silvers forged through the eerily silent corridors but could not find the hidden entrance to the chamber. Bryn Silvers, not knowing what to do, casted detect magic. It became apparent to Bryn Silvers that there were magical mist-like auras, one in front and another at the back of them. In a state of panic, Bryn Silvers ingested a potion of growth causing them to transform and fill the corridor with their gelatinous body. Bryn Silvers hastily retreated towards the group, blurting out a string of profanity in their wake. The two vampiric blade dancers were alerted of the unfamiliar gelatinous object slashing Bryn Silvers out of curiosity.

In the moon chamber, Rhea of House Aerindel slowly approached the moon pool and knelt at the edge of the mirror like liquid. She then took out her scimitar, coated in oil-like reddish sheen, and ceremoniously lowered it into the pool. As she recited her dedication to use the scimitar to destroy the undead, a faint glow bursted out of the scimitar cleansing the corruption and imbuing the scimitar with the faint blue moonlight. At this point, the group became aware of the commotion and profanity coming from the other side of the door.

The two mist-like figures retreated to the hidden chamber as Bryn Silvers moved out of the way to allow the other mystwarders to pursue the hostile dancers. Wendell Archard disguised as Anton entered the chamber and headed straight to the ritual circle. Rhea followed next but was greeted by two longsword slashes from the shadows. A fierce exchange of flourishes erupted between the former mentor and the student as Norrix Battleblades duelled Rhea. Natsu Dragoneel and Brett Jermaine also engaged the bladedancer both surprised by the agility and skill of the longsword wielder.

Wendell Archard tried to cast suggestion on Norrix Battleblades but the longsword master was seemingly fixated on fighting Rhea. Having blown his cover, Lamia appeared from the shadows and attacked Wendell Archard with great ferocity. The enlarged Bryn Silvers came to Wendell Archard's aid; They overwhelmed lamia by their sheer size and knocked her prone to the ground.

The arduous battle came to a close when Natsu Dragoneel and Brett Jermaine proved to be too much for Norrix Battleblades; Rhea ceased this opportunity to parry her former mentor's sword and perform a visceral attack through the master's throat with the scimitar she swore to destroy the undead with. As the body of Norrix Battleblades crumbled into dust, Akasha's incorporeal form manifested and caught the two swords falling. The group was surprised by the events that followed as Akasha swung the swords at Lamia's hands narrowly missing Bryn Silvers. Akasha explained that she does not know what she was but she was free of the hunger of being undead; Perhaps whatever Bryn Silvers, Natsu Dragoneel and Wendell Archard did at the chapel helped Akasha gain her senses.

### A mother's heart:

Rhea of House Aerindel reluctantly told Akasha that "a heart of a mother" was needed to dispel the undead ritual. Akasha, knowing what to do, presented her chest willingly. Rhea reluctantly raised her moonblessed scimitar stopping on top of where Akasha's heart would be. Akasha's incorporeal body slowly dissipated as soon as the tip of the blade touched her and a moonstone was in place of where her heart should have been.

> *"Make sure their sacrifices are not in vain." - Rhea of House Aerindel as she hands the moonstone to Brett Jermaine*
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Unfortunately for the group, Lamia took advantage of the tearful moment and grabbed her twin daggers using her now fully regenerated hands. She disappeared in the shadows but not before cursing Bryn Silvers. The group somehow felt that this will not be the last time they will see of her.

Brett Jermaine carefully laid three heads of the servants and two hands of the masters on each point of the pentagram and the "heart of the mother" in the middle of the ritual circle. As the profane circle fell apart, the blood moon over Alcamar slowly faded revealing the beautiful white scenery of the barren mountain tops. The nightmare was over... but at what cost?

Rhea of House Aerindel walked over the fresh snow in her once pristine dress now covered in the blood of her friend, aunt and mentor. For eight hours, she danced for the lunar flowers to grow big and strong. She collapsed feeling deflated but relieved knowing the beautiful flowers will be used to remember those who perished during this long accursed night.

## Adventurers

* Brett Jermaine
* Bryn Silvers
* Natsu Dragoneel
* Rhea of House Aerindel
* Wendell Archard

## Monsters Encounter

* Vampiric Akasha
* Vampiric Althea, Rhea's Aunt
* Vampiric Anton, Rosalyn's deceased husband
* Vampiric Norrix Battleblades, Akasha's Right Hand
* Vampiric Lamia, Akasha's Left Hand

## Treasure Received

* Two moontouched longswords + 1
* 500 gp each
* Necromancy Tome (Confiscated by Brett Jermaine)
* Rhea's white robes now covered in blood.
* Rhea's Moonblessed Scimitar

## Consequences/Conclusion:

* The College of Swords is left with no senior staff to assume the position of Headmistress/Headmaester/Headperson
	+ Headmistress Akasha died
	+ Right hand of Akasha died
	+ Lamia, Left hand of Akasha turned undead
* Two of Rhea's relatives dead: Sofiya and Aunt Althea
* Head Cook Rosalyn survived
* Elise, Rhea's sister and Vord's betrothed, survived