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The party get drawn into a joined dream by a new foe
| Score: 592 | 07/23/22 |
22/8/300 (near midnight)
The group awaken in the Longhall of Ballytur. Slight details are wrong and there's no one around. Elnorin checks the door and finds that it's locked and unable to move even the smallest amount. Ruric Ironfoot notes that the shadows in the ceiling are odd and, using the gem of trueseeing, sees a figure within part of the shadow. The figure, a fey looking male, descends from the rafters and coalesces back into a tall eladrin fey. When asked he introduces himself only as Scath and openly states that he he using this dream to sift through their memories, that he is looking for information on the tower (Syndrid's Tower) nearby. Heskan speaks to him about the concept of cooperation and friendship, which seems alien to Scath. Braith accidentally strikes a bargain with the fey that they will "Not hurt each other until we both know what value there is" in each other's knowledge. Scath, having assured himself a degree of safety, leaves. The door makes a noise and is opened to show a bright light and a stairway leading up.
The party step out into the market square of Carnspor. They recognise the night, though some detail are wrong, as Heskan goes to help deal with the screaming they see a familiar figure ride into view. Ban Lior, riding Gringolet, comes into view. He is wearing the guise of the Stag Lord. He dismounts and fighting begins. Elnorin summons wolves to engage him whilst Braith, guarded by Bankanir, attempts to ride off with Gringolet. Gringolet stands, motionless, as if not really there. Braith notes that Ban Lior is different and whilst the vision is something she hates, it isn't true. Ruric excerpts his will over the situation whilst Elnorin spies Scath on the roof of the central market building. Scath blinds and deafens the elf before leaving. The party refuse to fight and the vision seemingly comes to an end. The party attempt to steer away from where they are being led and Ruric excerpts his will to move through a portal he creates. Heskan feels Namhias approaching but he can't been seen.
They find themselves in somewhere like the underworld, Bas standing before them and preventing them leaving. Arinet is there and Bankanir is almost immediately distracted. Scath folds the dream, shortening the distance between the party and their foe. Bas attacks, Bankanir throwing himself in front of Arinet to protect her. The group engage Bas but Bankanir flies into a rage and takes aim at Scath. Braith stands between them and Bankanir lowers his weapon. He quickly raises it again but then shifts aim to Bas. The fight continues, Scath noting something was 'interesting' at one point before making himself scarce. The group eventually overcome Bas' image. The image of Arinet, empowered by Bankanir's will, is sentient enough to know she isn't real. She tells Bankanir he has to go with them and that she can't come. The hobgoblin is, once again, left stricken but leaves with Ruric's gentle guiding. The party use a door, made by Elnorin earlier in the fight, to journey through to Crossaire.
Ruric picks this moment to hopefully use the image of The Grimalkin to tie up their pursuer. They seem the figure of the fey sat on the wall surrounding the hill fort at the top of Crossaire. The Grimalkin asks why he is here and the group explain, he seems amused enough to stay engaged. Elnorin works out that this may be the real Grimalkin but the others do not. Scath arrives and The Grimalkin notes that he cannot oppose Court of Exiles business but leaves dropping some subtle hints. Scath, frustrated at not finding what he wants, agree to Ruric's request that they leave and creates an exit. The moments are tense as the fey carefully words that there will be no other doors if they find the correct way. The group leave and find themselves in a shadowy reflection of the caves near where they are.
The group travel on and, a short way later, find a fork in the tunnel. One leads towards an image of Syndrid in Duskhaven making his odd device whilst the other leads to the clearing where they killed Ban Lior. They head to the clearing and then onwards, following themselves. They reach a tunnel again and continue on for a while. The next fork presents an option between Finowen (seeing the trees of woe from their recent journey there) and Syndrid's workshop under Carnspor. The group go to the trees, Heskan briefly speaking of their meaning. Ruric now works out that the spell has trapped their dreaming self within a labyrinth in the ethereal plane and believes they are close enough to attempt to break out and wake up. The group focus their effort on the dwarf once more and, using the longhall there as a doorway, they wake up.
23/8/300 (early morning)
It is morning an Lanthe is shaking Ruric awake, seemingly having failed to dispel the effect by the presence of her spell components. The group are awake and Heskan goes to prevent Namhias causing a scene outside, the drake having charged in when he sensed Heskan being trapped. Lanthe heads off to finish preparing breakfast whilst the group recovers.