WELCOMING PARTY

***WELCOMING PARTY*** is the twenty-sixth session of *Glimpses Into The Fade.* As Distant footsteps are heard running in the distance, a pair return from an unexpected trek to several unconcious on the campground. The Fade is fickle in its ways, but it has its ways of welcoming those within realm.

## Musings

*Distant footsteps heard running in the distance. Hurried, scared, compelled. A pair return, refereshed and rejuvenated, their soft laughter fills the air. Several remain unconcious on the campground, a light green mist engulfs them. The Fade is fickle in its ways, but it has its ways of welcoming those within realm.*

## **Synopsis**

session starts with vilya and hira by the edge of the forest still. hira calms down enough to then apologize to vilya for freezing up, for not acting. vilya is like "wth that mustve been TERRIFYING is fine" and the two leave it at that, heading back to the camp with ease. arriving to camp they see everyone else is knocked unconscious, and rushes to their aid. hira wakes anthir and oriza, whilst vilya wakes monsoon and promptly teases him for 'drooling'. its then hira realizes everyone has this strange powder substance on their faces, asking what happened, nobody remembers it clearly enough. she asks where bran is, to which someone mentions he had gone to the river as well.

oriza then LICKS THE POWDER and falls asleep once more. deducing it to have no magical properties, anthir casts identify learning its a manmade substance known as 'dreamweavers powder' - signalling someone/thing has made it here in the fade. alarmed by this hira goes to leave camp to follow brans path, to which the others follow swiftly behind her, breaking down camp. Before leaving, Hira approaches one of the crystals with memories, with the aim to see through Bran. Rolling, rather poorly, she catches glimpses of Bran compelling, his encounter of Arel, the 'your like them' comment. Her vision ends with seeing him arrive to a meadow.

As she rolled poorly, Arel has a sudden grip on her through the crystal or something, dealing her 24 damage. However in the midst of it, Hira's hands grow sharp like claws, crushing the crystal and severing the bond between them. Anthir approaches her hearing the cracking, asking what she did, she explains where Bran is and that he's running from Arel. Oriza casts locate object on Bran's staff, after a moment the spell points them north-west, and they begin their trek towards him.

We begin travelling, but quickly lose the locate object spell (which lasts 10m) with time being strange. Hira relays what she saw to everyone else through Bran's vision, then tells Oriza to really think hard about Bran, going off the theory that one can will themselves closer to someone. Oriza focuses hard on Bran, remembering how young he is, he exudes the same energy that Lottie once had. Cutting down the plant life to make the trek easier, Oriza thinks of a meadow, thinks of a meadow, thinks of a meadow.... only to be greeted to a dark clearing (rolled 22, but their nat1 was cashed in), leading them into a trap.

A voice yells out to them, wishing to rid them of this plane for what they have done. From the trees arrows strike many of us, leading to rolling initiative. From the trees a centaur appears by Hira, slashing down at her. She casts shield which appears as a translucent purple cloak, the sleeve the shape of moth wings. She asks them to not kill them and instead explain what they had done, if they can talk things out. She talks of Arel's plan on releasing Pride within their realm. With the centuar rolling insight and Hira rolling persuasion, the man asks if she's being honourable and honest, to which she states yes. Her roll not good enough to end the battle, instead the man tells her to fight for honour instead, making the combat nonlethal.

Hira yells to the group that they fight for honour now, as everyone begins to engage in combat, the hidden foes appear from their hiding spots and rush towards us. Vilya acts as a designated healer, bringing her Halla spirit out and saves many of us from dying, especially Anthir, he got hit so many times it was crazy. Oriza moves to Hira, telling the centaur he doesn't want to fight if it can be avoided. The centaur spits at his feet, saying they don't respect their traditions. Pushing Oriza to fight, they start to attack as well.

Combat ensues, with Hira striking out the centaur she spoke to, along with the higher ranked fey (the system seems based off their antler horns, how many points do they have, etc). As the fey is struck down she yields, calling the end of the battle as we go out of initiative. She states they'll found well and will let them pass, but not to wreck any more of their land then they already have. Oriza states they understand, apologizing for what damage they've caused. They fey states their words mean little to them, and theyll keep an eye on them. Hira approaches, stating shes not wishing to excuse other peoples actions but asks what they should avoid doing.

The fey states its a long tale, doubting they have the time to listen to it. They explain that they haven't forgotten the sins of their ancestors upon their land. They tells them to leave their plants alone, leave the spaces as they found it, and not to take more then they need. She tells her to call them Elvira the Grove Keeper, and refers to us as "other worlders". She looks at us with contempt, like we had done something prior. Elvira asks of the someone who is trying to bring back one of the materials planes sins (Pride) to which Hira confirms. She asks if she means mortal, as far as they are aware yes. Well she hasn't seen one in a long time.

Elvira states it looks like they are questioning her, to which she elaborates she hasn't seen a Drow in a long time. Specificity is key, as many beings live in the Fade. An insight check reveals to them that fey don't do things for free, needing something in return. Hira asks what she would owe in exchange for such information, to which Elvira says it depends on what she wants. She loves a good memory though, the closer to the heart the better the information she would give. Contemplating this, Hira ends up refusing this offer. Meanwhile Oriza attempts to heal the unconcious centaur, to which they refuse the healing opting for a salve instead.

Elvira bids them farewell, along with their centaur folk, they leave in the opposite direction. Everyone notices as they walk, not hooves or footprints are left behind. With a natural 20, Hira is familiar with these creatures, known as alseids. Alseids are like cousins to centaurs, who are known to not leave any trails behind as long as theyre in their own territory. Leaving them alone and battered, the session ends with the group nursing their wounds, and a familiar bird perching on Hira's horn.

## Featured Characters

#### The Fireflies

* Anthir
* Bran
* Hiraeth
* Oriza
* Riya

#### Returning

* Monsoon
* Mint
* Vilya

#### New

* Elvira, the Grove Keeper