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Quote of the Session

Key Developments and Revelations

• The Plat. Covenant arrives at the Planar Tree and join a reunion with the commanders of the armies

• The Crimson Cloud and allies flee from the destroyed obelisk and arrive at the Planar Tree as well

• People affected with Darkvein have a violent reaction out of nowhere

• Big reunion: Esta reveals to everyone that their mission failed, Tharizdun has been freed and is above Epida Amini

• Crimson Cloud informs everyone about the seal and Caspian steps up to become its vesel

• Everyone is split up in two groups, one will go to Epida Amini and face Tharizdun, while the other will go take care of nethrak, who controls the source of the rifts currently opening all over the material plane

• A bit of downtime for important conversations

• As the respective parties are about to depart, portals open and demons attack the planar tree

• the groups and their allies are split, the gods of the Planar tree joining the fight together with the arriving forces of the Celestial Plane

• Plat. Covenant and Crimson Cloud are able to walk through the portal with only a few of the allies meant to join them

Full Session Notes (Sari)

The Plat. Covenant arrives at the Planar Tree with the surviving forces, and is immediately treated by clerics and medics to stabilize who can be. The clerics prioritize those that can still be saved and even then focus most of their energy on the strongest of soldiers and commanders. Varo regretfully is not brought back by the clerics as he is too far gone.

With the worst of the wounds tended to, the members of the group are called into a reunion with the commanders. Inside a hollowed out tree they reunite with Alistair and his guards. He updates them on plans and the losses the armies have had in the fight. The Jhorton Dynasty has been hit the hardest but overall we have lost around 60% of all forces.

Suddenly, Asger, Gabe, Ahmya and Sanctuary collapse after something causes Darkvein to react in their bodies. The pain paralyzes them.

Meanwhile, the Crimson Cloud is fleeing from the destroyed obelisk. The clouds part above them and reveals the symbol in the sky. It grew even larger as black tendrils start to spread all over. Aelthar and Arani also collapse soon after due to their Darkvein and Mika, still in her giant form picks them up quickly to continue their retreat with allies. They fight their way into camp and back into the commanders tent where they see a group of people gathered. They surround a person, one of Dragon Elf’s clerics seizing on the ground, apparently suffering under similar effects like Aelthar and Arani did but, while their reaction has subsided, the cleric remains in a state of madness. The mage keeps on repeating the same words over and over again:

“It’s too late, he is here. The seals are broken.”

Esta informs us that they have tried scrying into Epida Amini and this is the result of that. With Tharizdun’s release, other effects have also started to take hold; teleportation magic is completely gone, the same as summoning magic. Interplanar teleportation still seems to be available but limited. She also reports Lambert and Nagoria have died in the battle.

The armies then gather to open portals to the Planar Tree. Every sense of previous victory has gone with the new revelation of Tharizdun having been freed so the armies arrive with a grim vibe around them. Beaten and battered the armies settle around the Planar Tree, the party keeping an eye out also notice some of Luci’s soldiers being present, gathered under the banner of a chained lady-devil.

A glance at the gods shows all of them in a active discussion. All of them them but Corellon, who seems to be deep in thoughts.

The Crimson Cloud follows Esta into the Commanders tent, where she reveals the grim message they bring. We have failed, reports have reached her that the material plane is being overrun by demons as we speak. The Planar Tree is the last safe haven, and vital way of teleportation. She then offers the Crimson Cloud to speak and explain the seal.

Alexei steps onto the table and speaks. The only thing missing to this seal currently is a vesel. She makes it clear that whoever becomes this vessel has to be strong enough to withstand Tharizdun’s influence and also must be willing to die as it is not clear what will happen to their body or their soul when the seal is completed and Tharizdun is defeated.

Another report reaches us, informing everyone that the source of the rifts into the Abyss is Nethrak. Alexei receives messages from Serenity’s Retribution, who went into the rift in Cretara to try and seal it from within, but have been lead straight into Nethrak’s lair. They die in a last attempt to close the rifts. Soon after Rydel receives a message from Nethrak: “I am waiting.”

Caspian speaks up and puts himself forward to be the vessel. When he is accepted the entire room kneels in front of him to give their respect for his sacrifice.

With the two targets cleared, the group goes into a discussion on who goes where. Rydel and the Plat. Covenant agrees to take care of Nethrak, with the forces of Setmerun and the dragon elves the first to join their group. The Crimson Cloud will take Caspain to Epida Amini where Tharizdun’s true form has been spotted right above the city. With his release it is also assumed that every troop and force that has gone to Epida Amini was destroyed.

Messengers are sent out to gather every possible last help that could be gathered here at the Planar Tree, among them the Order of the Lost and the People of Hidden Hope. Arani then leaves the reunion to go to the Celestial Plane. She joins the gods at the plateau and catches bits of the conversation they were having. the Leaflord offers Arani to speak on the behalf of the troops when she hears that the discussion is basically about the gods inaction during this time of crisis. While she understands their hesitation to break the divine order, the threat they are facing is not only affecting the material plane but everything else as well. She then asks for the Leaflord to send her into the Celestial Plane.

Arriving there Mother is quick to find her. They have a warm reunion and Luminara confirms that Solar’s are preparing to join the fight. Arani tells her to be at the Planar Tree at the evening of the next day and they say their goodbyes.

She returns to the commanders with the news and everyone then splits up to rest, recover and yap.

Arani joins her siblings, Aelthar joins Maxi and Qiran and Mika joins her family and has a bit of an emotional moment, bawling her eyes out.

Metilles informs Thalia that his troops have succeeded conquering Myria, while Rydel has a conversation with Esta, catching her up on Petir’s decision of making him his heir. He also offers his support in rebuilding the dragon elf isles when the war is over and the world is saved.

Shortly after Rydel leaves the tree to go after Caspian to talk and thank him for his willing sacrifice. Thalia also walks over to offer Caspian a promise; to look for his soul even if she can’t promise to save him.

In the meantime, Sanctuary and Alistair hug it out, as Sanctuary admits that they don’t have the time to remain strangers when she misses him. Alistair accepts the apology and invites her to catch up in the Feywild when all of this is over.

Kani then drags Rydel over to them and they share a warm moment together before Kani speaks of her hopes to find them again in another life.

Maeve shares her knowledge about the cure of Darkvein with Ahmya. She has claimed the essence of the Earth Primordial which has cured her. The trial was challenging but she thinks it should still be available for others.

Gabe then has a conversation with Kharis and lets him know that he is aware of Kharis’ daughter. Kharis says that he’d like his daughter to remain afar from Enya and their home, as she fits better into the human world than theirs. Gabe agrees and leaves him to have a conversation with Corellon. Gabe expresses that he feared he had disappointed Corellon by being the last survivor of the people he had saved the last time they were at the Planar Tree, before asking if he knows what has happened to Morric’s soul. Corellon promises that he will give an answer when the time has come and promises that in case Gabe doesn’t survive he will try and free Morric’s soul for him.

Gabe then looks for Thena, and promises to be done with making decisions about her without her say so. He will have her at his side in the coming fight. They agree that they consider each other family.

Ahmya then has a conversation first with Kani about using her soul as a ressource in case the battle demands it. It would be a worst case scenario but Ahmya asks for permission even if that would mean the total disintegration of kani’s soul. After thinking it over Kani agrees that they all will have to give everything they got to save the world, and asks Ahmya to bring some part of her home, if it’s not herself. She then gives her her earrings. Kani says that she trusts Ahmya.

Ahmya goes to find Rydel and asks him the same question, though first she hesitates when he tells her about the inheritance of Vitrix’s soul. Rydel insists that he and his predecessors would all agree to give everything if it means to save to world, even if it would mean the end of the Dragon of Power. They revive their converstion about trusting Ahmya as well.

Ahmya then asks Gabe the same thing who also agrees to do it. When Ahmya asks him if he trusts him, Gabe hesitates before admitting that he trusts Ahmya but he doesn’t trust her ambition.

After Rydel’s converstion with Ahmya, Kani goes to find him and asks to take a flight together. She kisses him one last time before rejoining their group.

Next morning, the armies were getting ready to split, when a deep hum fills the air. Suddenly portals open all over the Planar Tree and hordes of demons come through. In the chaos of armies clashing the respective parties hurry to the portals after Esta commanded them to run for it. The gods as well join in defending the Tree when Solithos, the Earth Genasi, and three other figures arrive with Soulstones in hand. They release the Princes of Elemental Evil upon the gathered armies with Imix wrapping around the Tree and setting it on fire.

The group is split from some of their allies. Esta is among those who stay behind and while the parties are carried up along the branches of the Planar Tree to their portals, another portal appears right above them, and Solars come through. Led by Luminara they descend upon the demons as the groups are teleported back to the material plane.

DATE:

In-game Date Start:

In-game Date Finish:

Players Present

• Jeremy (Alistair)

• Oskar (Ahmya)

• Rasmus (Rydel)

• Sari (Gabrielle/Kani)

• Sydney (Sanctuary)

Subbed Characters

• X played X / Everyone was present.

Completed Quests

• Link to completed quests

Obtained Quests

• Link to quests picked up this session

Locations Visited

• List of Locations

Important NPCs Interacted With

• List of NPCs

Wall of Shame

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Example

“We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”

Key Developments and Revelations

• After resting with the caravan, woke up in a strange land, full of eerieness, malice and fog.

• On finding a path and following it, they come to the Gates of Barovia.

• Here the party meets Strahd Von Zarovich for the first time. He insinuates that he knows everyone in the party except for Sunny.

• They follow the path, see a group of buildings, then beyond that a larger village overlooked by cliffs and a castle on it.

• Making their way to the group of buildings, the fog seems to follow them, and Kronkus & Sunny get lost in it momentarily, with their being some time dilation happening whilst in there.

• Making it to the hamlet, they find all but one of the buildings empty and dark. Two children rush to them, saying there’s a monster in their house, and that their parents are keeping it at bay in the basement, and their baby brother is upstairs.

• The party move into the house, finding that this seems to belong to the Durst family. Moving into a main room, they hear the sounds of a party from beyond a nearby door.

• Opening the door, all lights in the house go out, no people are in the room beyond. The front door and gate close and lock on their own. A wolf growls from somewhere in the dark.

Last Time, in Barovia…

Arrival in Barovia

• The party joined the caravan heading out of Daggerford. Each one joined for a different reason, and none knew the others.

• On the first night, the caravan rested early, having been delayed from its set off by a latecomer to the caravan.
  The latecomer, Marko, had setup a campfire with food and drink, and one by one offered, convinced or cajoled the party to join him at his fire.

• The night was spent with everyone learning little bits about the other, drinking, eating, and being merry. Late, Marko crawled under his wagon for sleep, and invited the party to rest by his warm fire, which they did.

• When they awoke, they were not in the same place. The wagon, Marko, even the caravan itself was gone. No tracks or signs of movement in the immediate surroundings. It was if they had been picked up and placed here.

• All of their possessions were gone as well, bar a few items that were kept close to them while they rested.

• Taking stock of this new land, they found it eerie, almost dripping with maliciousness. There is a thick fog, swirling as if with a life of its own. The trees seem different, twisted, gnarled and unnatural. The sun, while present, seems to have trouble penetrating cloud and fog, and does not give much light or warmth.

• While the party is taking stock of their situation, Kronkus finds that the long-silent voices have started whispering to him again.

• Sunny reached out to the Triple-Fish God, and found his connection was muted, but there was a new, strong core in that feeling that’s never been there before, almost certainly connected to the Triple-Fish God.

• Moving around, they find a rutted path leading east/west. Westward leads into a thick wall of shifting fog, east has the fog thinning. They head east for a few hours.

Meeting Strahd

• Ahead, the forest slightly parts, and they come to a huge stone wall, with a large metal gate in the middle. Out of the front of it, a pack of wolves are tearing strips off a very dead body.

• Sunny casts Thunderwave above the wolves, in an effort to scare them. They reel back for an instant before they turn to face the party, almost undaunted by the noise. A larger wolf then snarls and pads towards the party, teeth bared.

• As the large wolf lunges to attack, his is called to heel by a voice. A man appears at the top of the wall, who effortlessly walks down the side of the wall as if were normal, flat ground. As he gets to the ground and walks through the wolves, they let him pass. He also passes the large wolf, ruffling its fur.

• Walking up to the party, he introduces himself as Strahd Von Zarovich, ruler of Barovia, and welcomes them to his land. He acknowledges them as the latest batch of adventurers to be brought here, more pawns in the game.

• He looks at each member of the party, including the still hidden Wilfyr, attempting to meet their gaze. Those that do, feel drawn into that gaze, with the world around them starting to spin away. There is only Strahd. Strahd doesn’t hold them in this gaze for long.

• He speaks briefly to each member of the party. His speech infers that he knows each of the party members to some degree, or about their past. Except Sunny. Sunny seems to be the enigma to Strahd.

• He warns the party that they will find no rest or success in his lands, that it obeys his command. He also warns them to not meddle in his affairs, and that if they do not, then their stay won’t be unpleasant.

• With that, he turns and strides away towards the gates, swirling his cloak around him and turns into a cloud of bats that then flies through the bars and off into the air beyond. As Strahd leaves, the wolf pack dissipates,into the forest.

• Inspecting the dead body in the road, they find it horrifically mauled. On closer inspection, they find a crumpled, partially torn Kolyan Indirovich’s Letter that Wilfyr takes.

• The party then pushes open the gates, and walk through. The gates closes and locks behind them. Beyond is more forest.

Finding Shelter

• After a little while, the path comes to the top a rise, giving the party a clear view of a Barovian Basin of sorts. In the far distance can be seen a town. Next to that are some cliffs, with an ominous castle at its heights, overlooking the town. About halfway to this town, there seems to be a small group of houses. Seeing signs of civilisation, the party heads down the path into the valley beyond.

• As they’re walking, they notice that the wall of fog is forming up thicker and thicker behind them. Its almost like its keeping pace with them, slowing down and speeding up when they do. Kronkus & Sunny attempt to interact with the fog and walk back into it.

• They lose all visibility, and cannot hear, touch or see each other. They try to leave the way they came, but cannot get out, only walk into more fog. After 10 minutes, both of them exit the fog from exactly the same place that they entered into it. To the rest of the party, they have been waiting for them for an hour.

• Continuing on, the rutted road finally gives way to gravel and stone, as they draw closer to the hamlet of houses. The houses are dark, boarded up, and there are no signs of life. Except one.

• As the party moves between the buildings, the sound of a child sobbing draws their eyes, and they see a small boy and a slightly older girl walk towards them.

• They are wailing, and after being frightened by Kronkus’ approach (due to his unnatural visage) cry that there is a monster in the house, pointing to the lit up house.

• Most of the party dash into the house, while the kids say that their parents are in there, keeping the monster trapped in the basement. They also say their baby brother is still stuck up in his nursery. Sunny tries to convince the kids to come with the party into the house, but they refuse, growing more and more scared of going back inside the house.

• All but Kronkus move into the foyer finding family portraits across the walls, labelled as the Dursts. Kronkus remains outside to try and convince the children to come with them, but they run off. He turns and joins the party in the house.

• As they all step into a large main room, the sounds of a party can be heard coming from another room, from beyond a nearby door. Arkemon retrieves the longsword from above the mantlepiece, and goes back and retrieves the heraldic shield from the foyer.

• Wilfyr finds a door on the opposite side of the room to where the party noises were coming from, and as he approached, heard the growls of wolves coming from beyond it.

• Arkemon warns against opening that door, and instead opens the door that should lead to the party they can hear. As he opens the door, the sounds stop. There is no people in the room beyond. All the torches, fireplaces and candles in the house go out as the party is plunged into darkness.

• Behind them, the gate and door into the entrance to the house close on their own, and lock. And another wolf growls in the distance.

DATE: 13/04/2021

In-game Date Start:

In-game Date Finish:

Players Present

• Adam (Milo)

• Alex (Arkemon)

• Ben (Elgin)

• Chad (Sunny)

• Russ (Delta)

• Stephen (Wilfyr)

Subbed Characters

• Everyone was present for this session.

Completed Quests

• No completed quests

Obtained Quests

• Leave This Land

Places Experienced

• Gates of Barovia

• Barovian Basin

• Durst Manor

Important NPCs Interacted With

• Strahd Von Zarovich

• Rose Durst

• Thorn Durst

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Memorable Quotes

The best quotes of the Session:

“We’d rather hurt each other than admit that we are terrified.” - Gabe to Thena

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