Session 38 - Chthonic Aspirations

Day 14

The group discussed what lay ahead and resolved to find out what was possible. Syndrid 'the mad's mind wandered. Amidir put forward the point that the Queen of Ravens governs fate. If Ruric Ironfoot and Bankanir were fated to die then that's how they should remain. Heskan took personal responsibility. In the end it was decided that Amidir Min'ath would go and speak to the Queen of Ravens.

Heskan went to sleep, Codruta busied herself with her own work, Elnorin listened whilst Braith spoke with Syndrid. Syndrid explained that everything was formed of three things. Body, Mind/Ether and Spirit/Astral. To return their fallen comrades to life they'd need to bring the spirit from the underworld, the ether from the maelstrom of echoes to the body. He mentioned that once you cross the threshold of the Underworld there was no return. Dorchadas, the first warlock, legendarily went to the underworld to bargain for power. He journeyed with his companion, Bas. Dorchadas gained the power he wanted but betrayed Bas in order to gain the power. Pushed beyond the gate, Bas now guards against things trying to leave. Syndrid also mentioned that there are many paths to the gates of the underworld, walked by different cultures. 

Elnorin conducted a ritual, confirming that Ashkeeper was wounded by the death of his 'host' and was dormant once again.

The Queen of Ravens spoke with Amidir saying she minded not if Ruric returned as 'the dwarf is useful'. She expressed ambivalence over Bankanir, warned them of eating the food and spoke of a terrible price for souls returning.

Arinet spoke to Braith of their customs saying that hobgoblins spirits were guided by the shade of their first hunt. Those who fail are left to walk without end. Bankanir, having failed his hunt, would never pass through the gates of the Underworld and would walk lonely in eternity. Syndrid expressed that whilst this had some benefits, finding Bankanir would be extremely difficult.

Amidir returned, experiencing less time than anyone due to the Queen's prison.

Syndrid dozed whilst conversations continued. Occasionally stirring to shout words.  'Birdcage' and 'statue' were important.

Day 15

The next day Heskan awoke to find Syndrid building a map or model of somekind. Later Amidir and Elnorin woke, the group discussed things. Syndrid expressed certainty over conversation last night saying that the souls would need silver cages to carry them and the ether needed a carved figure of each person. Unknown to anyone Arinet overheard this and snuck out, only being spotted when the door closed upstairs. Amidir caught up with her as she performed a ritual to locate objects, seeking the cages they needed. Amidir attempted to talk her out of it but, whilst she had abandoned the idea of a life with Bankanir she still wanted to save him. Amidir left her and flew back.

With Braith awake and Amidir returned the group discussed their next actions. Braith would not leave Arinet alone so they went after her. They found her entering an estate, seemingly abandoned. After waiting around outside, letting her continue, a guard patrol moved by. Amidir took to the sky whilst Braith hid in a nearby bush. Braith was spotted whilst Elnorin and Heskan ran down a side road to cover. The guards approached Braith and ended up giving chase. Exhausted as she was, the guards had no trouble catching her. Elnorin summoned 8 warhorses to stampede the area, giving Braith a chance to flee. 

Back at the estate they waited a little longer before pushing in after Arinet. They found her preparing a new ritual. Exploring the estate they found the remnants of a would-be necromancer's lair where the family had been sacrificed before a final prayer to Asmodea was cast with their blood. The necromancers (the parents of the sacrificed children) then committed ritual suicide. Heskan noticed she hadn't slept and, in her exhausted state, was attempting a ritual that would only point to the object she already had. When her attempt failed Heskan and Braith took her back. 

Amidir and Elnorin left separately, Elnorin using a locate object spell to attempt to find a different cage. They walked a more scenic route and, once Arinet was far enough away, the spell showed an object in the direction of the temple.

Braith, obviously struggling with Ruric's absence, had experienced difficulty through the day.

Back at Codruta's safe house The group discussed their next steps.