Session 7x6

Session 7x6 occurred on 4 June 2021. The players were PsychoXer0 (Romeron), Theos (Skarn), LaurenDanger (Bea Naturalis), StEsteban (Aravor Enfiel) and SidewinderME (Fisz). Their goal was to explore around other adventure sites and talk to Vera.

## Summary

In this session, the adventurers were Romeron, Skarn, Aravor, Bea Naturalis and the newest member of our heroic company, Fisz.

This session shall be known as the Skirmish of Glass City. Our adventurers were going to visit Vera and run tests on Blood Mist with the Blue Lichen. As we drew close, Romeron noticed a Rust Brother patrol led by an Iron Guard standing over Vera's body. He did not relate this to his companions. He charged forward, ready for battle and we followed. As we drew close, Fisz split right to flank our Rust enemies and the rest of us moved forward to be a distraction.

The battle was fierce. Romeron took a spear to the chest but kept fighting, working with Bea to slay the Iron Guard and then using his axe to smite its boar-beetle mount with a fierce blow to the skull. Aravor and Skarn engaged the soldiers, but it was not to the best of their efforts as Aravor lost an arm. Romeron also lost a toe. Skarn used his magic to crush a soldier with a rock but passed out from the effort.

Fisz was a great help, sneaking along the flank and engaging the archers, forcing them to scatter. They loosed many arrows at Bea but only one hit her in the shoulder. Our new goblin friend was able to whittle down the enemy and even saved Vera when the last Rustie archer moved to attack her as a last ditch effort.

Once Skarn was revived, Aravor was helped to the point where he came around and could heal himself. A miracle happened as a new arm made of clay sprung into being on the stump of his right arm, though it cannot be used. Vera was also saved and revived. Later, Skarn discussed the experiment with her and she agreed to it. Blood Mist was placed into the glass of the city and the Blue Lichen was added. The mist was absorbed by the lichen, which then shrivelled and died.

We brought Vera to Gardentop to recover, as there was a great roar when the experiment was conducted and the demon cat appeared shortly after, staring at all of us. It was not safe to leave the injured Vera alone in the city which is why she was taken to a place we could better defend.

## In-character tales

### Aravor's tale

We set out from Dryvault: my good friends Bea Naturalis, Romeron, and Skarn, as well as a newly arrived goblin named Fisz who I offered to take under my wing. He seems like an odd sort, but is a fellow fisherman, and seemed capable enough based on first impressions.

Our goal was to explore Dweomermount after a brief detour to deliver the Blood Mist and blue lichen to Vera according to Valdenar's request. As it turned out, Clay had other plans for us.

We found Vera's city of glass under attack by Rust Brothers, led by a fearsome looking Iron Guard upon a misshapen beast of a mount. The forces under him were also a clear step above the rabble we've faced before: Rust Brother elites. Fisz headed off on his own to sneak up on them, while the rest of us charged in after Romeron spotted Vera lying on the ground with several arrows in her, apparently being interrogated.

The Iron Guard on his mount and Romeron met each other in their charges. The Guard struck a fearsome blow, impaling Romeron with his spear, but Romeron hacked at him viciously as well. Both of them looked horrifically wounded, and Bea deftly danced in and finished the Iron Guard with a spear thrust. Skarn and I stepped forward as well, and Romeron finished off the mount.

I regret to inform that my recollection of the rest of the battle is somewhat limited due to the events which occurred next. I brandished my staff and stared down one of the approaching Rust Brothers as he pulled his sword back for a swing. I parried it partially, though it still bit into my side painfully. Moving blindingly fast, he pulled back for another strike, and I was too slow to respond. His blade bit through my armour and severed my arm at the shoulder. I collapsed, half delirious and bleeding badly. I remember Bea's face as she implored me to hold on, and I mumbled something about her pretty songs. Fear and I are but passing acquaintances, but I confess the thought of never hearing her battle songs again, of not being able to stand at Valdenar's side as he sought his destiny, not being able to trade jokes with Harlac or Romeron... it was a deeply uncomfortable feeling.

Do not take my discomfort for ungratefulness, however. I walk the path Clay has set before me, and I walk it gladly. When I suffer, I know it is for a purpose. When I fall, I know either I shall rise again, or I have done all that Clay needs of me. A happy outcome in either case. But, yes... I would miss you all. You are dear to me.

The rest of the battle I have pieced together from the accounts of the others, so you must pardon me for any inaccuracies. I heard that Fisz crept forward, surprising the enemy archers with his poisoned arrows. Both of them fell to his well aimed shots, one of them just before he was able to finish Vera off. Our new companion acquitted himself well - far better than I, it goes without saying! - and is clearly a worthy addition to our group.

Bea, Romeron, and Skarn finished off the two swordsmen, including the one who nearly killed me. Skarn apparently had one of his spells backfire on him, and collapsed from the intense hunger. I remember being surprised when I was told this - in my delirious state, I had heard a voice warning me that Skarn would eat my hand. Such a thing did not, of course, happen. Chalk it up to the blood loss.

The others were able to tend to Vera's wounds, and then turned their attention to me. Working as a group, they managed to stop the bleeding enough for me to regain at least some level of awareness. I attempted to use my magic to reattach my arm, and what happened was... well. You can see the arm before you. I claim not to understand why, but this appendage of clay formed before my very eyes. It is entirely immobile, and if it serves any purpose, I do not know what that could be. But after recovering from the worst wound I had ever taken, Clay saw fit to grant me this arm. I am not sure what happens next, but Clay has clearly taken an interest in the path I walk.

Troublingly, Vera informed us that the Rust Brothers came to her city searching for us... and her gaze may have lingered on... no, no, there's no sense in speculation. In any case, Skarn seems to have some rapport with her. My assistance was likely unnecessary in convincing her to use the Blood Mist and blue lichen together in her experiment. They consumed each other, and Skarn spoke of possibly being able to create a device with the blue lichen; one which could provide protection from the Blood Mist. An interesting theory indeed, and I offered to test his machine once he builds a prototype.

We brought Vera to Gardentop to recover from her wounds. Curiously, we heard a ferocious roar after performing our experiment, and the cat demon was staring at us, clearly in pain. I don't understand why the experiment affected it so, but hope we have not made an enemy of it.

Where shall Clay's will lead me next? Perhaps this is a lesson in hubris, for it is not the first time I've placed myself in harm's way, but it is the first time I've faced lasting consequences for doing so. I've stared down Rust Brothers, bandits, undead, mutant animals, a spectral serpent and a spectral king, and Rhodendor himself. Is Clay showing me that I must keep myself safe in order to protect others? It's something to meditate on, at least. Valdenar believes I could fight with a shield, using it as protection and weapon alike, since I cannot wield my staff effectively with one hand. I have not given up on my search for the mace, but that seems a workable idea for now. I will train myself in the use of a shield, but this is not the end of my journey. I still have two legs to walk this earth, two eyes to see its wonders... Clay has blessed me with much. The loss of an arm is regrettable, but the lessons I learn shall be more valuable than the limb ever was.

Now, pass me a drink, Voarni. My stump is itching and I can't scratch it.

### Bea's tale

There are times when combatants are evenly matched, and battle becomes brutal for all involved. Much blood was spilled, both our own and from the Rust Brothers. But I get ahead of myself.

We approached the Glass City where Vera resided, and she had been attacked by a Rust Brother patrol. The leader rode a foul beast, Boar and Stag Beetle or Rhino, something fused in demonic horror, and they were interrogating the poor mistress of this mountain.

Romeron was first to spot this and charged forward to face the foes without even letting us know. We hurried after him, spotting the five servants of Rust including that Iron Guard and its foul mount. Our new friend Fisz moved to the flank with his bow and the rest of us would engage these cruel brothers head on.

Our valiant dwarven warrior charged that Iron Brother and was impaled by a spear, but he pushed on. Romeron’s axe bit deep but the Guard overcame the wound in a furious rage. I followed up and thrust him in the face with my spear, knocking him down a second time.

Romeron would slay the beastly demonic boar, but battle turned against us. Skilled archers loosed their arrows and sturdy swordsmen pushed against us. We exchanged blows back and forth, wounds dealt on both sides, and great horrors befell us as Aravor lost an arm. I took an arrow through my armour. Romeron lost a toe to an errant swing.

Yet Fisz flanked well in his plan, loosing arrows to distract the archers and save us from their arcing attacks. Even as the last archer ran to end Vera’s life, the goblin landed one last shot and the Rust Brother’s pawn slumped over before permanent harm could be done.

Recovery was difficult, but a miracle occurred. I place little faith in gods, but Clay blessed our friend Aravor, for when he tried to heal the stump, an arm made from the clay of the earth below grew to replace the old one! It was only a minor miracle, as it does not work, but it has appeared in the casting of Aravor’s magic, and this is indeed a sign of favour.

Such is the tale of our near deaths in a vicious battle with the Rust Brothers. We were weary and treated with Vera as she recovered from her own wounds, but that is a tale of blood mist and lichen that is beyond my understanding as a bard of battle.

### Fisz' tale

Fawk me! What hav I got meself inta?!

Join in wit tis new crew hop'in to take some het off frum the RBs, make sum coin or find it as dee case mabee. Sum learn'in too?

First jaunt (to a glass city?!) and who da we run inta, da flipp'in RBs! Big bloke runs in an plants isself on a spear but makes up fer et by rightly pumbl'in man an pig. Da other bloke jumps in where e should't an promply gits is arm lopt off! (Pratty sur ee threat'ind ta bleed on em?!) Then later mad a new arm out'ta mud?!! Da lady did some singy-songy stuff. I just keeps to me'self in da bushes.

Open dis ain't da norm. Too mich het. Weerd group fer sher.

Wunda if any ov'in fish? Doubt et...

### Romeron's tale

We went to visit Vera at the glass city in the mountains. We had new tiny goblin who had recently arrived at Dryvault join us named Fisz. Nothing really happened during the trek but as we got closer to the glass city I noticed through my spyglass a group of Rust Brothers attacking the city and Vera was lying on the ground. Without a word I rushed up the mountain, all I could think was how to make the Rust Brothers suffer. The rage that had subsided and left me before I arrived at Dryvault was back and it was even harder to control.

The leader of the Rust Brother group was riding something kind of pig-stagbeetle mix monstrosity but I cared not and charged straight in without a worry. The Ironguard cared not of my charge and found an opening in my plate armor piercing his spear through my flesh I barely evaded it from being worse then it was. I struck back at the Ironguard cleaving him better then he expected hitting him cleanly in the chest, he wheezed hard and it seemed he would fall off but then he arose back up gritting his teeth while bleeding from his mouth. Bea finished him off with a spear through the back of his head, I felt lightheaded from the wound but the pig beast was still in front of me and I lifted my axe and crashed it into its skull cleaving it in half killing it right there. There was some more fighting but my memories are hazy the rage had taken me over and when it was over not only had I still a spear head lodged in my chest and my show was filled with blood and a severed toe.

There was some experimenting done with the bloodmist and lichen which I understood nothing until I heard a loud screeching from the mountain and saw the tabby cat demon there clearly not happy what we had done here. So instead of leaving Vera at the glass city we escorted her to Gardentop to be safe just in-case the demon cat would want to take some kind of revenge..

### Skarn's tale

Within his mind a plan is drawn:

Artifice of glass and iron

Pulsing veins of blue

The demon screams