Session0052

Episode 0052 - It's A Trap
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**Setting:**

Nimbia - Mycorrhiza - Lo'ihi Island - June 6th-7th, 211 AW
**Synopsis:**

* After discovering some troubling new intel about Daimao's schemes, the party returns to Mycorrhiza, where they convince the leaders of the imperial forces to delay the invasion of Kameshima until they can fulfill the Fable of the Thousand Year Door.
* Using the palace's magical paintings, the party heads to Lo'ihi Island in search of the Amadou Circle and the fire elemental nexus.
* En route to the nexus, the party gets into a scuffle with a pair of yisho ne'er-do-wells, who were paid by Kamm to assassinate Frog.
* Arriving at the Amadou Circle, the party has a brief conversation with Archdruid Goronormous, who sends them in to a temple of trials which protects the fire elemental nexus.

## June 6th

Over the course of the day, Louche and Odell work on repairing the damage that the Kameshiman airship sustained in the earlier combat. They take note that the engine and other magical components are highly advanced arcanotech - beyond either of their ability to tamper with. Fortunately, however, the damage from the fight was largely to mechanical components, which they are able to repair. By the end of the day, they are able to successfully repair the airship sufficiently to make it airworthy and operational.

During their time working together, the two also discuss their plans for how to address the Morningstar situation, and Louche's plan to eventually leave this universe with Israphel.

Meanwhile, after hearing about XVIII's alarming dream of their family, Frog offers to send a *sending* message to Valomir Quinn on XVIII's behalf, to which XVIII agrees. Frog tells Valomir about XVIII's dream, and asks if the family is alright. Valomir responds, confirming that an unexpected visitor came. He explains that the visitor had to be subdued, but that the situation is under control, and everyone is well. Valomir also warns Frog that the visitor was sent by Gragnok, and warns Frog not to trust him. Frog tells XVIII about the response, but omits the information about Gragnok.

Settling in for the night, Frog and Odell decide to sleep at the Dream Inn, in hopes of having divinatory dreams like the other party members did.

During the night, Frog has dreams about the upcoming war with Kameshima. He sees Daimao making preparations with the other generals of Kameshima, and learns that the war is something of a trap. The Kameshimans have deliberately provoked and baited the Empire into war on Kameshiman soil, and they intend to use the mass bloodshed and casualties of the war - including those of Kameshiman troops - to empower the Earthstar deep within the Underdark in some way.

Meanwhile, in his dreams, Odell has a conversation with Thalien Omadithas. He tells her that he admires her work, but says that she is nonetheless wrong, and that peace and progress are possible without her plan to make everyone equal by force. The two discuss for a while, trying to reach an intellectual common ground, but they find that they are at an impasse. Thalien shares some information about her own past - of which Odell was already aware thanks to his castings of *legend lore* - and says that she no longer believes that peace is possible without radically reshaping the world according to her vision. Odell sympathizes, saying that he isn't going to try to stop her, and that he doesn't want to answer her violence with more violence. Nonetheless, he still says that she is wrong, and warns her that the party wants her dead. As the dream begins to fade, Odell studies Thalien's holy symbology and the connection of her power to those that worship her, in hopes of producing Rune Magic fueled by her divine power.

## June 7th

In the morning, the party regroups, and Louche plays the psalm of innervation. Frog tells the party about his dream regarding the upcoming war, and expresses his concern that the Empire and Mycorrhiza are being drawn into a trap unwittingly. The party discusses, and decides that they should try to fulfill the Fable of the Thousand Year Door and take the Star Shard into the Underdark to the Earthstar before the war begins. Aware that the invasion is set to begin in only a matter of days, the party decides that this plan might require imperial forces to delay their invasion. In order to facilitate this, the party decides to return to Mycorrhiza and discuss with the war leaders, before proceeding onward to Lo'ihi Island in pursuit of the final elemental nexus.

After making some brief preparations, the party gathers with Archdruid Garro, who casts a *transport via plants* spell to send the party to Mycorrhiza. Notably, the party leaves the Kameshiman airship in Nimbia, unable to transport it using the spell.

Arriving in Mycorrhiza, the party makes their way to Mycelium Palace. There, they meet with King Trumpet and Queen Chantrelle, as well as the other imperial Senators and war leaders present, as preparations are being made to set sail for Kameshima in the coming days. Frog tells them about the information that he learned, which they verify using divination magic. He also tells them about the recovery of the Kameshiman airship.

Upon hearing this new intel, the imperial war leaders are hesitant to call off or even delay the invasion, particularly because many wheels are already in motion, and it might be too late. They insist that if they are going to adjust their plans, they need some sort of concrete explanation of the party's plan - which they have still not explained in any detail. Frog remains somewhat noncommittal about the details, attempting to keep the Fable of the Thousand Year Door secret. Aristoadle also emphasizes that there are greater threats at play, and supports the party's request to delay the invasion. After some more discussion, the imperial forces agree to delay the invasion until the night of June 14th at Malkoth's request - an extra two days for the party to make whatever preparations they need, and to time the invasion with an upcoming Prime Zenith.

Afterward, the party discusses the situation with Aristoadle and Ilex, who is now serving as Aristoadle's understudy and apprentice. Aristoadle agrees to send the party to Lo'ihi Island in pursuit of the final elemental nexus using the palace's magical painting. Before he does so, Ilex contacts Archdruid Goronormous - the leader of the Amadou Circle - with a *sending* spell, verifying that all is well at the nexus, and the circle is prepared for the party's arrival. After making a few preparations, Aristoadle opens the painting, and the party departs.

Arriving at Lo'ihi Island, the party finds themselves in the Mycorrhizan consulate amidst a bustling tropical resort town. They meet with Abassador Scutella, who gives them a map with directions to the Amadou Circle, which she explains is located in a cavern at the peak of Mauna Make - a volcano on the island's northeastern coast, about an hour's travel away from town. She also lends the party some magically heat-resistant gear to help them avoid the dangers of traversing the volcano.

Before departing for Mauna Make, the party spends some time enjoying the town and the local attractions.

Patches goes to a pawn shop and purchases a magical surfboard from a yisho named Bisho.

Frog and XVIII spend some time at a local eatery, where Frog confides in XVIII the information he got from Valomir Quinn regarding Gragnok.

Odell, Jack, and Gragnok research the island's history, finding some information about the Amadou Circle and Mauna Make. They learn that a temple of trials exists, created by Myriostoma to protect the fire elemental nexus.

Louche spends some time crafting dynamite.

Regrouping a short while later, the party departs for Mauna Make. En route to the volcano, the party is confronted by Bisho, who demands that Patches returns his surfboard. When patches refuses, Bisho attacks, accompanied by a pair of henchmen and an accomplice named Kruk. During the fight, near defeat, Kruk attempts to surrender, explaining that the ambush was just a job for which he and Bisho were hired, but Malkoth nonetheless incinerates him.

Louche intimidates Bisho into surrendering as well, and admitting that he and Kruk were paid by Kamm to attack the party. He gives the party the money that he and Kruk were paid by Kamm, explaining that much more was promised to them once the job was done. Afterwards, the party allows Bisho to leave and return to town.

After briefly recovering from the scuffle, the party proceed to Mauna Make, and begins making their way up the mountain, traversing a series of tunnels and pathways up to the top of the mountain. Arriving near the top of the volcano about an hour later, the party finds a large cavern built into the mountainside, inhabited by gorons - half-elemental druids of the Amadou Circle. The druids greet the party, explaining that they were expecting them after receiving messages from Aristoadle.

Briefly exploring the cavern, the party finds a statue of Myriostoma and Juno, with an inscription similar to those that the party has found at previous circles. They also find a teleportation sigil, which Malkoth briefly studies. The druids explain that they can activate the sigil to send the party to the temple of trials, wherein lies the fire elemental nexus. To offer further guidance, the druids take the party up to the volcano's caldera to meet with Archdruid Goronormous.

At the caldera, the party meets Archdruid Goronormous - a goron the size of a giant that lives in the volcano. Goronormous explains that the fire temple was created by Myriostoma and Juno with his assistance, to ensure that the next star child and conduit of chaos were adequately prepared. He informs them that the temple includes a series of trials that will test their mastery of the elements, and advises them to prepare themselves before entering. He remains somewhat ambiguous about the details, explaining that it would defeat the purpose of the trials to offer too much information. In order to aid them in their quest, he gives them a magical greatsword of his own making.

The party spends some time talking to Archdruid Goronormous about his history, learning that he has been alive for millennia, describing himself as one of the world's oldest living things. They show him Syntithenai and ask him if he has ever seen it before. He says that he has, as Myriostoma wielded the sword when she came to Mauna Make.

After making their final preparations, the party returns the cavern, where the druids open the sigil and send the party into the temple of trials. As they arrive in the antechamber of the temple, the party is immediately attacked by the temple's elemental guardians.