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nightmarist · 7 months

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Alright finally writing our previous DnD session !

All previous parts:

The party has been shopping around, budgeting their treasures. They also came to an argument with Yilcer about whether her Archdruid Helvega is the same as the Sigurd Helvega they faced ages ago.

This particular session was very lore-heavy. I was worried they'd get bored, but pleasantly surprised by how immersed they were and how much they enjoyed piecing together bits of lore they each had, so I hope I can translate that well enough to text here.

Yilcer refuses to believe her Archdruid is the same Helvega as the necromancer they met, but it's mostly due to Ivan's petty one-sided feud with him: Ivan insists he's a bad guy because Sigurd let him drink his blood knowing it was tainted because he's "always wondered what would happen."

Tork had to mediate between them.

In the mean time, Xehara went back to one of the shop keeps, Zephyn, a Tiefling who has half his face seared to the bone, a seasoned adventurer who has definitely seen a lot. He asks Zephyn about his necklace, since Zephyn's wares are mostly jewelries. Zephyn personally isn't sure but suggests if it's magic and can't be taken off, he should ask a wizard or sorcerer.

The group gets back together and goes to Glamours and Gores, a magic and magic items shop run by a half-elf wizard named Dravor, dressed in midnight-black robes with subtle hints of gold threads, wearing gold pauldrons and chains.

Dravor sells them a few items, including some scrolls (Fireball, Speak With Dead, Grease, Disguise Self).

Dravor looks through a few of his tomes and tells Zehara the necklace is certainly of Ancient time, but can tell little beyond that. There is an enchantment attached to it, but he wouldn't necessarily call it a curse as much as he would call it soulbound. He did not detect any outright cursed or dark magic on the necklace, but it seems that its refusal to be removed is part of its duty, and that Xehara would have to be the one to find out what that is.

Yilcer wanted to open up a bank account since the ancient coins they have cost a fuckton of gold for just one. The Three Lizard Bank recognized her surname, Helvega, and asked if she was related. She at first didn't want to say, but passed a persuasion check after backtracking. They gave her a vault key to a Helvega vault. She at first refused to let anyone else go with her, wanting to discover the secrets of her Archdruid herself.

The vault was massive, but had very little actually inside.

Five portraits were stacked against the wall. She didn't recognize any except one: her Archdruid wearing a teal, armored robe holding a book, a quill, wearing a silver ring with a purple stone. But, what was unusual, is that his eyes were normal. White sclera, dark black irises.

There were stacks and stacks of letters neatly arranged, and several books. They were all in a language she didn't know, however, ad she cursed at herself, realizing the others were studying this language. She found a safety deposit box and opened it. Inside were:

A broken pearl necklace, a large amethyst flower, a large peridot flower, an opened letter with the wax seal preserved of an axe and a lavender stalk crossing but in a language she didn't know, two silver rings with an amethyst and a peridot respectively (that she recognized one as in the portrait) with engraved phrases in another language, four small black obelisks, and a pitch black dagger coated in rust or old blood.

She went back and very frustratedly demanded the others go with her.

They had ONE scroll of Comprehend Languages and had to choose which of the items they were going to read. I gave them the choice of:

A stack of old letters. A stack of new letters. A stack of ancient books.

Either way I was going to give them the safety deposit box letter and rings for free since they're quick reads.

Everyone examined all the items in the room.

The group recognized the portraits as the indiiduals from the Godkiller temple as well as portraits hanging in Sigurd's office at the Elk God's temple: Eloise Starguard, Asa Heilung, Razvra Zhiat, and finally a portrait of Sigurd himself. However, the fifth was recognized but unexpected: A heroic portrait of a middle-aged man with chopped brown hair and scruffy beard. He is Xehara's target.

Everyone mulled over these portraits.

Xehara and Tork looked at the two stacks of books. One of them was a stack of language books in many languages. They recognized Sigurd's handwriting in various notes, as it seemed he was learning all these languages himself. The second stack of books were neat and they passed a check to determined they were preserved by the same magic that had been preserving Razvra's body (and now-decapitated head....)

Tork and Xehara passed a Wisdom check so I allowed them to understand the subject of the books but not fully translate them. They were five books about the Usherian Pantheon, seemingly each about a god, but couldn't decipher what the fifth book as about.

Yilcer is the one who used the Comprehend Language scroll and chose to translate the older stack of letters.

Here's a copy paste of my notes:

Sigurd details that there is a sickness disturbing the local flora and fauna in a way that seems unnatural or supernatural. He asks permissions to travel to the temples, as the Divination Chambers seem to be having difficulties connecting to the gods. It’s a strange, otherworldly thing he’s never seen before. But, like any illness, Sigurd insists he can take it.

Asa seems to be the first of his companions, as he sends a letter to the central Ushurian temple, the Temple of the Quartet, detailing her aid in soothing frenzied creatures that have come to illness. The Temple of the Quartet seems to be located near Fjorsom and Brislat. Asa is apparently a warrior nun dedicated in Ranger arts. She and Sigurd travel to Draghule together and find the dragon god suffers the illness. He details the symptoms:

It is of ragged breath, drooling from its mouth with a wretched stench of death. It is rather unable to move and appears to have a bloat. He and Asa, as skilled healers each and Asa of great animal-clinictic study do what they can to aid the Great Dragon, but little seems to help it. Sigurd informs the Temple of the Quartet he will attempt his Final Measure, and perhaps self-study its signs and symptoms. They reply to him with prayers for his own health, and thank him for his sacrifice.

He details that after curing the illness, he and Asa were blessed by the visage of Galdramadur Himself, in draco-humanoid glory, thanking him for his service and sacrifice. The god seems to be doing much better, and even said that the mortal coils of the great beast God-Avatars can occasionally suffer mortal-inflictions. Sigurd, however, tells the Temple he does not find this illness to be very…. Mortal.

Sigurd has hired a band of mercenaries to travel with him and fellow priests, to protect them from the troubles that would meet them traveling from Osanisk to the southeastern shores to travel to Aeonaclys.

Letters are addressed to his mother. He has a few letters from his mother praying for his safety. A few of the letters describe the band of mercenaries, a barbarian, a fighter, a pair of wizards, two paladins briefly, small things about their origins and personalities. A few funny things, such as Asa scolding them for brutishness towards animals and plants. He details one particular paladin longer than the others – the description is certainly Razvra.

He keeps in touch with his mother. His mother calls him Siggy.

In Aeonaclys, he mentions to a nun that an Angel barred them from entering Morthana’s temple at first. He reveals it was because Morthana’s avatar had been sick, as well, but eventually allowed him upon realizing he healed both Galdramadur, Desmaduke, and Ranmaya. Morthana herself soothed him a most dreadful tale. He does not write this tale, only insists that when he returns, it would cause a dire stir amongst the worshipers and can only be told in person.

Aloise, an Angel, joins him as she feels it is her duty to do so.

He tells his mother about small things. He tells her he thinks Razvra would enjoy their farm because he enjoys gardening, and hopes to show him someday. He said Razvra also likes horses, and tells her they should get one or two. Razvra’s horse is named Tabernackle. He includes a drawing of Razvra combing its hair.

He finished cleansing each God-Avatar.

He is asked a few times by clinicians and worshipers about his health. He insists it’s simply taking time for his own body to heal such an alien illness. He assures them he will be fine. It’s no different from healing a flue or a leper.

Most of the letters thereafter are between Sigurd and The Three (Razvra, Eloise, Asa), detailing small everyday things of their lives, keeping in touch for years. There seems to be a lot of peace now. Razvra and he live in a place called Alma, on their own farm. Sigurd’s mother had passed and he was given well-wishes – there are flowers pressed between these letters.

Asa has children in the Brislat grove. Eloise jokingly complains of the never-ending petty mortal sufferings she hears as a Guardian in Aeonaclys. Eloise and Asa both ask him about his health. He says it’s hard to keep it contained, but his body can manage it. It’s the least he can do for faith.

More time passes but new letters to them state Razvra is going with him “like old times” to visit the temples and god-avatars to cleanse the Godsickness again. Eloise and Asa both tell him to be careful, reminding him that his body is still recovering from last time. He cleanses them all again. Years pass.

New letters state his worry that the sickness is returning at exponential rate. He cleanses the gods, but they only get sick again. Eloise and Asa offer to help him, they’re own clerical abilities they believe could combine with his. He refuses, saying he doesn’t want to put his beloved companions in any danger.

Months pass.

He writes to them he fears the god-avatars are beyond saving, or will be soon, but the priests refuse to believe him.

Asa and Eloise insist he must make them see truth, that the avatars are still bound to mortal coil.

Sigurd tells them the priests are afraid the gods would cease if their avatars cease. Sigurd insists that the gods use the avatars to deal with mortal complications but otherwise would be powerful enough to resume new coils. They are GODS. The primordial essence of all life. They would not “cease”

They each agree to search for new Great Beasts that can withstand the power of the gods.

Months go by between letters, some are from Sigurd to priests, priests being upset with his line of thinking, finding him blasphemous to think anything could contain the Godsouls. Sigurd insists that avatars need not necessarily be Beasts, but any powerful being willing and capable of becoming the mouthpiece for a god would do.

Many letters are collected, addressed to Sigurd, from many priests, priestesses, nuns, monks, nobility, commoner, renouncing him as a Blasphemer. He has been stripped of his title as Ascendant Priest.

Sigurd vaguely mourns in a letter he has blood of his brothers on his hands for the foolishness of blindness. And soon, the blood of his greatest devotion will be on his hands, too.

The rest of the letters are only from Asa and Eloise, frequently writing to him, asking for his reply, asking for Razvra’s reply, asking Razvra to keep Sigurd safe. They resort to begging for an answer before the letters stop. Sigurd had one, seemingly unsent reply: I can fix it.

In between the letters are various illustrations (that I did not draw lol)

Some drawings of Razvra, Asa, and Eloise, mostly doing mundane things: Razvra brushing his horse's hair, Asa gholding her hand out to a small animal, Eloise hanging laundry on makeshift posts, some various figure drawings of various monks, nuns, priests, and priestesses, a few drawings of buildings, a few of the interior of the Forge Temple but with people, a few of the Elk temple but with people, a few of an oceanic temple, a few of a stone temple, a blood stained drawing of the goblet.

Ivan stealthed and took the drawing of the goblet (as a reminder, his people were said to be created by the magic of a goblet, and some time go he found and took the very goblet out of the Godkiller temple, but has very little knowledge of its true purpose otherwise)

The group told Yilcer they've been to two of the sketched temples and described vaguely what the found there, but told her little else.

I also let them read the rings and deposit letter.

The letter read:

Happiness, many believe, is the enchanted palaces we read of in our childhood, where fierce, fiery dragons defend the entrance and approach; and monsters of all shapes and kinds, requiring to be overcome ere victory is ours. But I know this work, and I know this life. I know the fear that punctuates the depths of the gut, the heartbeat of finality when you believe you are on death’s final knell. But I too know happiness. The mending of the soul that comes after gore, the soothing of gash wounds by the palest, most charming light, the tenderness of a kiss to the smallest scrape. I will always the sword-arm to he who is forever my healer, the mend of my heart – Sigard Vega

Ring with a dark purple stone says: Until Nothing Remains

Ring with a dark green stone says: Except for Our Regrets

Knowing Razvra and Sigurd had been married, they determined these were their wedding rings, vows, and gifts. They asked to see my illustrations again and everyone said how sad it was realizing the rings and flowers were in their respective color palettes:

They determined everything in the deposit box was particularly special, and almost ritualistic. They determined (without my confirmation but they are correct) that the four obelisks were likely tied to the fact there were originally Four Champions (Sigurd, Razvra, Asa, Eloise). The dagger, they determined, was likely what Sigurd used to kill Razvra, a very stark contrast to the beauty of most everything else in the box, and an almost sickly keepsake to remind him of what he had done.

I also gave Yilcer a particular piece of information that she shared with the group:

All names come from languages, and while she can read that Sigard Vega is a name, she can, at this moment, understand its translation and roots. Sigard means "Victorious Guardian" and "Vega" means way. I also told her, you realize that the name Helvega means "The Way to Hell"

Ivan speculated very correctly that the reason why the Godkiller is symbolized by a dead horse is because it's a bastardization, a symbol of what Sigurd had lost and thus changed his name to "The Way to Hell" showcasing his own descent of mourning to madness.

Ivan also had a very correct speculation, but I hadn't confirmed it yet, that when Sigurd said the God-Avatars needn't be beasts, he asked Tahir about the Revenant Ritual. Tahir's brother is a Revenant, which in my game means he is a body possessed by another soul. Tahir said that when he saw his brother, he had been stabbed through the heart and wrists to bleed and die so that his body could make room for another soul. Ivan compared this to the ritual they vaguely came across in the second or third session, cultists who did the same in the name of the Godkiller.

Yilcer offered information at this point:

She had asked her Archdruid before the adventure if he had ever seen this blight before. He said yes, once a long time ago, long before she was born. She asked what it was and he said it was something unnatural, or perhaps supernatural, but otherwise did not know. She asked what he did to stop it before, he told her he did "something terrible." She asked if he would have to do it again, and he simply said "I hope not."

Tork put 2 and 2 together: They found Razvra's body in the temple of the Dragon God. They found the Elk-God's body in the Godkiller's temple and an empty temple of the Elk God. There are two more champions, and two more temples. One of the champions is a guardian of the Raven goddess Morthana.

They looked at the portraits again. The one of the mystery man, Illark, had a broken frame. An Investigation check proved that it was likely thrown or otherwise smashed in frustration, but they found it strange it was still preserved with these others if Sigurd had been the one to throw it.

They also noticed, but no one seemed to pick up on my hint yet: Asa, the elf woman, had red hair and tawny skin. Yilcer passed a check and determined she was an Eldarin like herself (who is also from Brislat if you remember / read Yilcer's backstory).

They flitted back and forth between whether they wanted to sell Sigurd's stuff or not. Yilcer very much did not want to, but they all decided his story was already too fucking sad AND they decapitated his dead husband - "We have to leave him something!" Tork said.

They took the stack of newer letters as well as all the books, but left the portraits and deposit box.

They asked the bank teller how old the vault was. She looked through records and found it was actually the very first account the bank ever opened and sadly did not have any official dated records from back then, but its several hundred years old. They asked when the last time someone came an she told them about a hundred years or so (which is about when Sigurd met/adopted Yilcer but no one noticed that yet).

They bought a few more things in town now that they remembere why they went to the bank to begin with: Yilcer has an account now and exchanged an Ancient coin for gold to finish their shopping spree.

After Tahir got the Distinguished Outfit from all over the shops, he decided to flirt with Dravor as a distraction. Dravor rolled a nat 1 so he was very much enamored by our dog furry in thigh highs while Xehara stole the remaining 4 speak with dead scrolls and four comprehend language scrolls. Everyone was trying to get him to steal more than that but he refused. Dravor, being a nervous wreck while Tahir continued to flirt with him, gave Tahir a special potion of healing that does 10d6 + 10 healing. Tahir kissed him as thanks and the poor man nearly passed out.

I REALLY need to draw Dravor because he's like. A tall foreboding goth wizard with long dark beard who was reduced to blabber. I told them it was like when Kiff in Futurama gets nervous and just can't say anything.

I might make a list of the things they bought if anyone is interested, A few items I ripped from BG3 but a few I made up for their particular individual needs. I'll have to ask my note-taking player what they got, though, thank the gods he's been helping me keep track.

Ivan thought about his vampire clan has a triumvirate of gods. An Angel of the Moon named Mani, A Demon of the Sun named Kuukul, and a Necromantic Sorcerer named Erste. After seeing Eloise being called Manaven in another language at a previous temple, he determined that Eloise is likely the Moon Goddess he and his people worship. His people have a temple carved into the mountain that is said to hold the corpses of their gods, but no one except the absolute elite are allowed to go there. He realizes Eloise's body may be there, but has no idea who Kuukul or Erste may be.

Before we wrapped up I gave them a summary of important locations:

The scrolls Sigurd gave to Amin (Tahir's brother) to give to Xehara has portraits of Illark and one is the seal of Stillas, a beautiful city-state of commerce and wealth. It is possible Illark could be there. It's about a 3 week journey.

Much further to the west is Brislat and Fjorsom, and thus where the Temple of the Quartet is.

To the east they may find the origins of a peculiar necklace they found in Sigartha.

To the Northwest is Osanisk, an oceanic country and home to the Temple of the Angler Goddess.

To the far east or they could Osanisk are docking points where they will have to take a boat to Aeonaclys, Ivan's home, and thus where Eloise might be (and thus putting Asa in Osanisk).

They seem to prefer to head towards Stillas, so we'll find out next week.

If you all need it, here's are the Maps:

Cities Map | Countries Map

They are currently in between the desert mountains in a valley called the Caravan Carnival in Dauthas, also called Paripahari (not labeled, sorry), it is a long river that connects the oceans and cuts through Stillas where a great many caravans convene together, a Silk Road of sorts.

#reprise of renewal #dnd #homebrew session #its really just my own entire story as a skin on top of dnd as a system #i should probably learn gurps or something lmao #but i love 5e #i REALLY want to implement ars magica someday though that magic system s so fucking cool

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