# Chapter 2: Stranded in the Land of Shadows # session 6 (30/03/2024) - Gloomreach day of arrival - Shadowfell echo of Waterdeep - grotesque carricature of Waterdeep - no light - skeleton dudes - it oozes dispair - _it's fucking silent hill_ - there are shadar-kai - "people" here are psychos - they do _anything_ they can to feel emotions - otherwise they disappear - other prople here are called shadowborn - less infused by the plane - they aren't as much at risk of disappearing - some people here still have color in their eyes - visitors from other planes ? - it is easy to get lost here - roads seem to move - Nybarg tries to smell the road back home - it smells of dust and decay - like when someone is been away for a while - abandonned smell - not able to smell a route - party is in the equivalent of the Dockwards - Jez interrogates a bystander - slamming that person on the wall - Jez wants to know who is very good at magic here - appart from the dragon > Maybe one of the Unkind - the ones who enforce the raven queen - they are a bunch of ravens - more could be known near the castle - the dragon is weirder now - he goes through phases - god of death and undeath for dragonkind - Kronapsus: god of death - He Who Shall Not Be Named: god of undeath - Jez stops holding him to the wall - bystander points out to Calcine she should extinguishes her hair - it is super bright to denizen of the Shadowfell - even if it doesn't give Calcine light, she becomes a lighthouse and a blinding beacon - if needed the party can buy shade lantern or seeing googles - lately more people arrived - few days ago a mass influx - people at a festival arrived not knowing what happened - cultists are regulars here - coming and going - he doesn't know how they do it - the cultists travel to the Barrens - no one knows what they are doing there - not even the Unkind - doesn't seem to be an issue to the cultists - everyone else passes with boats to avoid the region - party goes and tries to find a tavern - large building - ruckus noise inside - 2 well armored flying through a window - not pulling punshes - they both seems to enjoy it - on cut the tip of the finger of the other - they stop and go back inside to drink together - a lot of species here - mundanes and not - waiters are shadowfell quicklings - some pets - only take shape when looking at them - otherwise looks like a small ball of arm of hadar - _inside of the "mouth" is a big nope_ - a goth cantina - people enjoy the place as an oasis - Roystone tries to be crazy for a while - Jez and Vincent stop him - _for now_ - he still is talking to random people in the bar - asks the 2 fighters what is a good souvenir from here - they show daggers made in the Shadowfell - Roystone asks if he can have one - he has to win a 5 fniger fillet - Roystone is allowed to cast magic to help himself - best of 3 - Roystone wins it by a land slide - the shadarkai stabs himself on purpose ? - Roystone get the knife - Jez buys food and drinks for everyone here - a lot of mushrooms and cave aged cheeses - thick ale - all is bland and muted - Vincent goes over to Calcine - she is not feeling good - Vincent hand a cigarette to calm her - _Vincent called her "darling"_ - she is burning _hot_ - tried to raise her temperature to fight the cold feeling the plane gives - the place is cold - the places makes her feel cold - not working so far - proposes to go towards the bar to get info with her - to go ask for information - maybe trade work for a way out - Calcine sticks with Vincent giving her a task to focus on now - at the bar - bartender - female elve shadowborn - not shader-kai - Khala - Vincent mentions the cultists going in and out of the Barren - asks information about them - people here don't trust them - rumors say they are not from here - obvious from the smell (smells like hell) - no one knows what they are doing here - cultists just are here - don't interract a lot - come here from time to time to buy stuff - sometimes have scuffles with the Unkind - most of them are "alright" - keep the undead here in check - Vincent asks them if they recruit in exchange for a way out - bartender realises we didn't plan to come here - some sorcerer are powerful enough but are dicks - unkind are not feeling well now - Vincent asks if it is because of the dragon god state - the bartender feels unsure about what she can say - Vincent tries to reassure her to the party's intentions - rumors that the Ravenqueen has abandonned the place - Ravenqueen is one of the things that keep the dragon "in check" > mainly rumors - bartender offers a job here - Vincent refuses - Calcine asks if she can help in the kitchen to take her mind of for a while - Calcine can go in the back ask Mako the cook - Vincent buys 2 rooms for the night - it is currently about midday - there are clocktowers outside to check time - not always on balance when there is a quake - Vincent asks if there is a time parity with material plane - she doesn't know - hard to know from the Shadowfell - to help visitors mainly - shadowfolk don't need it and are open 24/7 - Vincent messages the info back to Nybarg - Nybarg is first confused - info is still passed well - multiple options - hell smelling ppl - Vistani - Unkind - Calcine goes to the kitchen - open kitchen - Nybarg watches over to - Markos - male Shadowborn Orc - big boi - very chill - _likes his job a lot_ - Markos is impressed with her performance - Calcine learned Markos mushrooms stew - in exchange offers some Orangette - Jez and Roystone in the bar - Jez is busy with a gay panic over the Shadar-kais - table of ex was safe today - Nybarg asks Jez if she wants help with a ice breaker - Jez is embarrased as hell - Nybarg goes to the shadar-kai table - 1 male - name is Vale - looking 30 - broken glass wrapped fists - 2 female - older - name is Breña - larger - double bladed weapon - younger - name is Tryn - bladed whip - Nybarg asks them were they got the dagger - chipped the obsidian from the mountain - Nybarg offers and arm-wrestle - caltrops are placed on the table - Nybarg shows the fire hand (crimson rite) - Nybarg goes hybrid - Shadar-kai picks a caltrop - hurs himself - starts raging - shadar-kai is winning at first - Nybarg counter attacks with his curse of bloated agony - Vincent cheers on the side (bardic inspiration) - Nybarg finsishes winning - shadar-kai enjoys the pain - Calcine brings Shadar-kai and Nybarg some food - chef snacks - spiced up the mushroom soup with the spice pouch - Shadar-Kai feels the difference in taste :D - Nybarg considers a piecing as a memento - Vincent is against having some himself > Calcine, remind me to not get some - also Vincent wants his horns untouched - Duck makes a comment about handlebars - the Tieflings reacted _hard_ - it is a sensitive subject in Faerûn - one of the female shadar-kai takes a professional piercing kit out - Jez wants a piercing - belly button piercing - obsidian one - Jez takes the operation like a champ - shadar-kai gives a goodberry to help fight infections - the party and the shadar-kai enjoy bonding over a meal together - Vincent gets a bonus Orangette - Nybarg asks some questions about the cult - after some drinks - reiterate the information already given - they believe too that the Ravenqueen is distant - they heard the rumors also from friends in other Shadowfell cities - the influx of creatures in not only from the Prime Material Plane - death seems to have traffic jam - souls are no sent to the Fugue Plane - lingering in the Shadowfell - 2 hypothesis - Raven Queen has stepped away - Dark Ones might be involved - dark evil:tm: - some people are still alive when coming down here - they get converted after a while - note to self: _do **not** accept the fatality of the Shadowfell_ - Barrens are further than it looks - like a shadow they can strech for an inch or a hundred feet - tip for Calcine - don't cast a shadow or it will come to life - consider taking a shadow lantern for non darkvision people in the party - Vincent goes to bed - Vincent is not alone in the room after 20 minutes - takes his hand crossbow > I give you 6 seconds before i shoot - a kenku reveals themselves > oh nonono, please no shoot - kenku asks if Vincent is from the main realm and where in it > Waterdeep, and apparently this place is the reflection of it - kenku picks a book from Vincent > what's this ? - Vincent's private journal - Vincent agrees to answer if the kenku answers questions - name is Quickquick - Quickquick reflexively tries to steal - Vincent shows him the flute to distract him > you help me get back ? I'm from there. - Quickquick is from Baldur's Gate in the Prime Material Plane - Vincent asks Quickquick if he knows the Vistani - he knows them - when they show up it is heard from easttown first - Vincent asks about the cultists - Quickquick knows them - they cause a lot of trouble in easttown apparently - Vincent takes a closer look at Quickquick - **_REDACTED_** - Calcines goes to bed - pats Jez on the should when she leaves > good luck - casts guidance and doesn't turn back - Jez goes on the offensive for Tryn - it goes better than expected > just me ? - rest of the party leaves - Jezz spends a night with Tryn but also Breña and Vale # session 7 (13/04/2024) **_date is Uktar 3rd 1519DR ?_** - in the tavern - during the night Jezz managed to slump back in the room after the "fun" - Duck is nowhere to be found - Roystone left a note and will catch with the party later - Breakfast talks - Calcine brings the breakfast - standard stuff in the realm but with some spices - Jezz get an extra madeleine with yerba mate inside for some energy - Vincent talks about his nightly encounter > I met someone of the Unkind - will talk to us today - name is Quick - he is a kenku wearing a nice jacket - no one sees him - party decides to go towards the Barrens - Shadowdeep Streets - party hears a bird whistle - it's Quick - Vincent checks that the party is alone here with Quick - coast seems clear > are these all your friends ? - Quick is surprised there are not more than the 4 present - Vincent asks Jezz to bring the rest of the group - Quick asks if we are companions of Vincent > yes - Quick is willing to trade a way out for a service - his eyes still have a little bit of color - Calcine believes he has a way out - he wants to prevent the cultists to do stuff > they are trying to make this a realm of undeath - Vincent mentions Quick's link to the unkind - Quick can pull strings with them through services due - Quick wants the party to first prove themselves - _Quick notices that Calcine is desperate to get out of here_ - the party hears a painful moan in the near distance - Nybarg asks if the party should do something - Quick doesn't say no - Nybarg goes take a look - Calcine guidance - Nybarg goes stealthily - Nybarg sees a couple amorphous shadow - none has seen Nybarg yet - Nybarg reports to the party - the party is starting to decide what to do - more shadows and shadow mastiffs appear - Nybarg activates rites and transforms - _fight script_ - Vincent - inspires Jezz and Nybarg - shoots cold shadow mastiff - Calcine - blesses Vincent, Jezz and Nybarg - pulls out her silver dagger out of her boot - toll the dead on cold shadow mastiff - Jezz - runs to naughty shadow - axes and flurry of blows it - Nybarg - slashes down naughty shadow - runs to nasty shadow mastiff - slashes at it - nasty shadow mastiff misses Nybarg - Quick crits cold shadow mastiff - Vincent - moves away from cold shadow matiff - spray of cards vapid and confident shadow - vapid is dead - Calcine - goes up to cold shadow mastiff - slices it with her silver dagger - Jezz - goes to cold shadow mastiff - axes and flurry of blows it - confident shadow - goes to Jezz - it misses Jezz - Jezz ripostes - chipper shadow misses Vincent - cold shadow mastiff bites Calcine - Nybarg - wins a staring contest against nasty shadow mastiff - it is cowering - nasty shadow mastiff runs away - Quick attacks chipper shadow with his shortswords - Vincent - sees a menacing figure creeping towards the group (Bodak) - mentions it to the party - dissonent whispers cold shadow mastiff - Calcine hits a toll the dead on it - inspires Jezz again - Calcine tolls the dead cold shadow mastiff who barely lives - Jezz finishes confident shadow and cold shadow mastiff - fluffy bodak - joins the fray - _don't look at it !_ - stare at Jezz hurting her - chipper shadow - drains Quick of 1 STR - Quick finishes it as it tries to leave - Nybarg - charges fluffy bodak away from Jezz - takes damage from ending close to it - nasty shadow mastiff runs back in - Quick - misses fluffy bodak - hides behind a wall - Vincent - casts vicious mockery on nasty shadow mastiff but it resists - takes the fluffly bodak aura damage - asks Calcine help with cold shadow mastiff - Calcine - casts burning hands on cold shadow mastiff - doesn't like it _at all_ between fire damage and necrotic - moves to avoid it from moving towards Vincent - Jezz - looks at fluffy bodak and tanks it - axe and kicks fluffy bodak - attack does full damage - there is a blue spark getting out of the impact - takes fluffy bodak aura - fluffy bodak stares at Nybarg who saves it - Nybarg - stares at fluffy bodak and saves it - charges fluffy bodak prone - nasty shadow mastiff bites Calcine - Quick finishes nasty shadow mastiff - Vincent - moves away of fluffy bodak - unsettling words fluffy bodak - dissonent whispers fluffy bodak - Jezz hits an attack of opportunity - goes and helps Calcine up - Calcine - takes one step - toll the dead on fluffy bodak - doesn't let go of Vincent and says thanks - Jezz - _gets saved from the stare by bless_ - stomps on fluffy bodak - gets away from it - fluffy bodak - gets up - stares at Jezz who barely saves and survives (#blessed again) - Nybarg - runs at fluffy bodak - nearly saves the gaze - slashes at it - it resisted the cold damage - takes the aura damage - Quick misses fluffy bodak - Vincent - makes a snarky comment at Jezz - casts dissonent whispers at fluffy bodak killing it - Calcine - goes with Vincent towards the very hurt Jezz - heals Jezz and gives her a snack > i know you have my back - starts scolding her recklessness > this is exactly why i tell you you were reckless, i know my limits - fluffy bodak - shadow essence leave it - a physical body is left behind - a distorted version of a grey - elongated face - hollow - distorted death scream - a blue liquid is seeping out of it before fading out - Quick looks very panicked - it did not go away - it should have - Quick goes to it - Vincent joins him and helps him - Quick finds a burnt symbol on leather > oh no. oh no. oh no. oh no. - everyone but Calcine recognises it > this is the symbol of Orcus, this is not good - the lord of undeath - this is not his realm, he should not have power here, nor even be here - maybe possible because the raven queen has gone missing - Quick say he needs to go contact the Unkinds - all that means that Orcus has started to break free of his chains - Quick asks if the party is staying to help - Quick asks if the party can gather reinforcements in the material plane - Quick mentions that the smell is smilar to the other cultists - Quick confirms he'll talk about it to the Unkinds - Vincent mentions calling upon the Harpers for help if we are brought back - Calcine mentions it is the first time he mentionned it - Quick poke at Vincent about being secretiv about it - Vincent pulls out a Harper pin - it was in the basement near where the party went in the Shadowfell - blames himself about it - Quick said it might not be his fault - Quick hands out a sachel to Vincent - rest for now - 100pp inside - key to a set of lodgings > stay here this is safehouse - Quick cuts the head of the bodak and places it in the bag - Quick will first try to convince the Unkind - the head will serve as a proof # session 8 (27/04/2024) - gloomreach street - Duck and Royston catch up with the party - they are caugth up with what the party did - Quick departs for his misson with the Unkind - to the safehouse - party buys some stuff for the trip - at the safehouse - Calcine proposes to cast a sending to Aurora - vincent panicks a bit - message > Aurora, we have pursued the terrorists into the Shadowfell, they work for Orcus, we are doing what we can here. some assistance would be appreciated - response > oh dear, where in the Shadowfell, it's a huge plane, if you let me know do what i can - Calcine informs the party about it - Calcine asks if Vincent knows people that could planshift - there is a few uncles - his sister Victoria knows someone in Candlekeep ~~(Léon)~~ - he'd rather have us pull ourselves out of the mess - Vincent is still freaking out - Calcine does a calming hug - Calcine offers a do a dinner if the get out - 2nd sending > sorry for the time, we are in Gloomreach, any information about the place would appreciated, Vincent is fine, i'm taking care of him - response > Gloomreach ? Could be worse, don't go into the Barrens. I'm glad Vincent is fine, Null is fickle, the mist is deadly, don't trust shadows - party hears a clicking sound of talons on the roof - from a small window a kunku is seen - Quick comes through the window - has good and bad news - bad news - it is most likely the work of Orcus - they don't care about sending the party back - we are stuck here ? - good news - quick heard about a potential Vistani trade route - leaving maybe next week or so - going to another plane, not sure which - settlement accross the Barrens - need to be careful about shadowquakes when crossing the Barrens - Vincent informs Quick about the sendings **_date is Uktar 4th 1519DR ?_** - next day - inspiring leader - planning to go through the Barrens to the Vistani - through the Barrens - march order - Nybarg - Royston - Jezz - Vincent and Calcine holding hands - Duck - as leaving the city - there is a wall of shadow now behind instead of Gloomreach - no sun, no light - mayb 1h of travel, hard to tell - dust storm coming at the party from nowhere - 2 hands on the rope now to hold onto it - Vincent is assailed by visions and lets go of the rope - Vincent is dissoriented and moving away - Jezz and Royston feel Vincent going away - Jezz runs after Vincent - finds him - grabs him but the poney tail - and runs him back to the party - the storm subsides - grey landscape - mountains and mist - no colors - everyone hears the crying of a child - can't pinpoint the source - even heard when plugging our ears - can feel the sadness and cold of it - Calcine and Nybarg take a point of exhaustion - Duck hears a name in the cries > don't fear the butcher, don't let him get you, he will eat you, HE WILL EAT YOU - little bit of color in the shadow - beckoning sound coming near the song - Duck tells the rest of the party about it - Calcine is having a _slight_ panic attack - Duck sings back at the child - the party only hears his part of the song - after a singing back and forth a red portal opens - claws tearing space-time - it's a planar rift - Duck beckons the party to come inside after him and follow to play - inside the rift - looks waterdeep adjascent - bassy laughter > fresh meat - Duck continues to rhyme at the Butcher - the Butcher rhymes back at Duck - very hot place - cooking meat - boiling blood - Duck casts Protection from Evil and Good - party advances runing after Duck - at the end of the alleyway sits a huge figure - large figure with horns - big cleaver in hand - _very_ red - Duck asks the party to help him this one time - Butcher starts moving towards the party - _fighting script_ - Duck - _rolled a 34 initiative with a nat 20_ - runs towards the Butcher - chromatic orb misses the Butcher - casts Blink - doesn't blink out - Vincent - moves towards the Butcher - unsettling words > only one person can be red in this world of black and white - hypnotic pattern fails as the Butcher is immune to charm - the Butcher - walk past Duck - summons 4 floating chains - Duck deflects a gore - Royston - runs towards the Butcher - punches the Butcher - stunning strike - Vincent silvery barbs the save - the Butcher is stunned - Calcine casts haste on Nybarg - Nybarg - rushes to the Butcher - unleashes a flurry of 4 attacks with haste - Jezz - runs up to the chains - misses the chains - Duck - moves away from the Butcher - misses a chill touch - blinks away - Vincent - casts spray of cards on the Butcher blinding him - unsettling words the Butcher - the Butcher - is stunned and can't do anything - _the chains still move apparently ???_ - holds until Duck is back - hits Royston knocking him prone and grapple restrain - hits Vincent for a shit ton of damage and grapple restrain - hits Jezz for a shit ton of damage and grapple restrain - Royston - escapes the chain - patient defense - Calcine - heals Vincent - misses the Butcher with a produce flame - Nybarg attacks butcher and a chain - Jezz - is free from the chain - patient defense - Vincent - unsettling words - dissonent whispers the Butcher - the Butcher runs out of Royston's space and gets stun - the Butcher - is stunned - chains still move - Vincent gets downed - Jezz gets hit _with advantage through patient defense..._ - Royston - bites and punches the Butcher - stuns the Butcher - Calcine - extends her arm toward Vincent - casts life transference (-20/+40) - concentration on haste is lost - Nybarg lost turn due to haste lost - Jezz - runs towards the Butcher - gets downed by the chains - Duck - misses chromatic orb - doesn't blink - Vincent - unsettling words - dissonent whispers the Butcher - the Butcher - still stunned - the chains still go - Duck shields - Vincent gets downed and 2 death saves - Royston punches the butcher near death - Calcine - hits a produce flame to no effect - heals Vincent - Nybarg claws the Butcher - Duck blasts down the Butcher with magic missle with a final rhyme quip # session 9 (25/05/2024) - inside the rift - Vincent healed Jezz - Nybarg cuts one ear of the Butcher of - _fill loot repartition_ - clothes of mending - Nybarg - dust of sneezing and chocking - Nybarg - elemental gem, emerald - Calcine - elemental gem, yellow diamond - Calcine - handy haversack - Jezz - instrument of the bards, folchlucan bandore - Vincent - mystery key - Jezz - stone of good luck - Royston - wand of scowls - Duck - dark shard amulet - in the haversack - cloak of many fashions - in the haversack - short rest was taken - Vincent felt the blood from the life transferance - party goes back out - Gloomreach - party tries to force march through - Jezz, Vincent and Calcine get a level of exhaustion - Royston finds a safe looking place to tale shelter for the sleep - it is a small travel safe heaven - looks like it is used from time to time - Duck plugs the entry with his tiny hut - Jezz asks if Calcine can do some lights - Calcine casts a flame blade - _it is very bright_ - Nybarg takes first watch - transforms into his hybrid form - doesn't have some weird smells around - Calcine - opens her books - points at her father's name - dad is writing some stuff for the domain accounting - mom is cooking or brewing something - connection is a bit blurry but they are safe and sounds - Vincent leans over Calcine - _fill later_ - asks what she was doing - she explains she was looking at what her father was doing at home - a way to reconnect with reality outside of the hell that is the shadowfell - Vincent says that this is surprisingly sweet - Calcine asks why does he finds it surprising, did he feel like Calcine was a monster - Vincent tells her that yes blood magic is weird and disturbing but she doesn't use it in a bad way - Vincent asks how come Calcine uses blood - Vincent is interested in learning more about it - it is the thing she has the most ease using for her powers as a catalyst since ever - Royston mentions that Calcine's blood smelled very sweet - party and especially Calcine are very suspicious of his new state - he is a dhampir now - Jezz and Vincent start bickering a lot - Calcine tries to calm emotion so everyone goes to bed - Vincent is the only one thats saves - Vincent backhugs Calcine - mentions it is cute that she tries to manipulate his emotions - Calcine tells him that she succeeded twice already with it - as she leaves for the bed Calcine thanks him for being honest about his feeling about the blood magic - it is way better than the people doing comments in her back - everyone goes to bed **_date is Uktar 4th 1519DR ?_** - next day in the rift - a lightning storm looks like it is brewing - Nybarg and Royston scout tthe path ahead - Vincent inspires with music - Jezz and Calcine keep watch in the rear - party advances and find a random healing potion - storm is not catching up - smoke can be seen now in the far - the other half of the city is approaching into view - other half of gloomreach - the gards allow theparty in as we are not threatening anyone - Royston asks if there are some Vistani in town - some came in the river yesterday - we should check the docks - Nybarg tries to hide to check if ppl are following the party - he nearly loses himself in a street market - manages to find the party again - no one seems to be stalking the party - Royston leads the party - gets distracted by a 7 - starts talking with them - Vincent screws the flirting with silvery barbs - Calcine mentions the lack of fair play of it > now this is funnier darling - Royston then leads the party wonderfully to the docks - weird port market - selling stuff that looks like lamprey - workers all around - _bloodborn fishing hamlet vibe_ - some Vistani can be seen - fancy clothes - loading a larger fishing vessel - Jezz hails them - asks if they are going to the material plane - they are indeed after a stop on Evernight before going into Neverwinter - Evernight is the reflection of Neverwinter - Jezz offers 20 platinum for the whole group and we are accepted aboard - Party helps the Vistani load - after some thinking about it Calcine catss sending towards Aurora > Hello Aurora, we are on our way back, Vistanis took us aboard their ship, we'll arrive through Neverwinter hopefully in less than a week - Aurora's answer > I was asleep, mind the time next time, i will see you when you get back - the same message is sent to Quick > Hello Quick, we are on our way back, Vistanis took us aboard their ship, we'll arrive through Neverwinter hopefully in less than a week - Quick's answer > Hh... good good, when you get there contact me again. I will have update on what i find gotta go. - Vincent plays his instrument for everyone that is around - _nat 20_ - he is gifted some shadowfell food and ales as this is the tradition here - Jezz and Roystone mingle with the Vistani - _double nat 20_ - they seem like honnest peoples - the racist rumors are unfounded # session 10 (08-06-2024) **_date is Uktar 4th 1519DR ?_** - on the docked ship - preparing to sleep on board - little loud with all the living cargo - Nybarg grabs a book for the night - Royston feels like someone is breathing down his neck - Duck is exhausted - heavy footsteps come down the stairs > MAKE WAY FOR THE CAPTAIN ! - desc - large automaton - wielding a glowing large sword - tricorn hat - shaking hands with passengers and the crew - name is Captain Bronze Bones - Vincent exchanges pleasantries with the captain - Vincent offers services to the crew - *not experienced in seafaring but hey* - captain mentions that if we make trouble we will face madame ginette - it's his sword - Calcine also comes to talk to the captain - talks about cooking - there is a crazy goblin that does the cooking - need to be careful if she wants to help - Jezz tries to play the lute - Stairway to Mount Celestia - *yeah... no.* - Captain mentions no fire down the deck - Calcine asks more details about when is fire allowed - makes the captain uncomfortable - fire genasi - there are 3 life boats on board - party can now go to sleep and we depart on the morrow ***date is Uktar 5th 1519DR ?*** - ship departing - small boats have latched on the ship - pulling the ship into the sea - casting some wind base magic - 1h later in the sea - ship is now at sea - sea is black - no star in the sky - heat lightning strike flashes - Vincent offers help with moving the cannonballs > that's a fancy shirt are you sure you want to stain it ? - casts levitate on it - Vincent proceeds to help moving them - the crew mentions a lot of shadow dangers - tl:dr: the place is fucked and everything wants you dead - Nybarg helps moving a cannon - a mist starts to form around the ship - no reaction from the crew at its sight - black amorphous shapes start surrounding the boat - the crew throws hardtack overboard - the crew feeds them hardtack - pseudopods emerge and grabs it - Nybarg asks what is that - they are shadowfell jellyfish - they just eat stuff you throw at them - don't touch them or lose your hand - a loud noise - a crazy looking goblin comes up - is is Chuck - he asks who will help him to cook later - all the party points at Calcine - Chuck asks what it is that Calcine has with her as food right now - it is croquetas de jamón - small ball of bechamel with cured ham bit - surrounded in crumbs and fried - Calcine makes him taste it and asks what he'd add to it - kind of a trick question to judge Chuck's culinary skills as it is already seasoned - he shows some berries he'd add to it - *they taste like a battery on your tongue* - after lunch - the crew looks apprehensive - they saw a big shadow in the water - not good news - Royston gets up the rigging for a better view - Royston inspires and Calcine guides - it looks like the silhouette of a ship > are there shadow ships ? - crew doesn't know about shadow ships but ghost ships are a thing - Royston confirms it is an underwater ship - the crew looks worried > oh no there only one underwater ship... - the crew mentions it is time to start praying for our lives - the crew was just pulling a prank... - it was to liven up the ride - as a sorry the captain offers to fire the cannon as a sorry - Calcine angrily takes on the offer - did not like getting tricked into praying to her god - burns the wick with her hand - Vincent tries to calm Calcine - dinner time - Calcine doesn't eat with the crew - still angry - Vincent accompanies her - rest of the crew - Chuck brings out the meal - it is halfling meat - not halfling but something they eat themselves - after the explanation Jezz eats it - Calcine and Vincent - fill the blood puppet sequence later - Jezz saw everything - loud noises and a crash can be heard down in the hull - Jezz rounds up everyone - there are a large barrel and chest with mouths and tentacles - mimics - a crew member is being tugged on between the 2 - *fighting script* - Nybarg - runs in - crimson rite - transforms - Jezz - goes to the chest - cuts of the chests' pseudopods - the crew member is freed from their grasps - moves between the chest and the barrel - attacks the barrel stunning it thank to Vincent's silvery barbs - flurry of blows the barrel - barrel is stunned - Vincent casts faerie fire - both mimics, Jezz and crew member are affected - moves back in the kitchen - Royston - moves to the chest - punches repeatedly and stuns it - crew member flees - a new mimic (table) fails an attak on it - Calcine fails a slow on *all 3 of them **FFS*** - table attacks the shining Jezz - Nybarg attacks the table - Jezz attacks the barrel - barrel - sprays a caustic mist - Nybarg takes the full brunt and is blinded - Royston and Jezz mitigate the effect - Vincent - walks out of the kitchen - unsettling words barrel - casts hypnotic pattern - table fails - Royston - attacks the chest and stuns it again - goes to the barrel - attacks it - Calcine slows table and barrel - Nybarg - grapples the table - no longer blind - Jezz attacks the stunned chest - barrel - doesn't recharge - while slowed crit bites Royston down - Vincent - healing word Royston - crit misses with the handcrossbow - Royston - breakdance kicks the barrel standing up and punches it - patient defense - Calcine casts life transference on Royston (-28/+56) - chest spits on Calcine *(28 damage, I'm at 1 hp oh god)* - table is incap - Nybarg shoves the table in the barrel pushing it back - Jezz attack the the chest - barrel - doesn't recharge the spray - bite on the table in it's mouth - pseudopods misses Jezz and Royston - Jezz ripostes and misses the pseudopod - Vincent - moves to the chest - casts shillelagh - misses the chest - inspires Nybarg > I had the table under control, you were supposed to trust me ! - Royston - finishes of the chest - attacks the barrel and stuns it - Calcine - heals back up a bit with healing word - misses barrel with toll the dead - Captain Bronze Bones - moves in the room - table - misses Royston with pseudopods - bites the barrel as revenge - Nybarg - attacks and destroys the table - attacks the barrel - Jezz unleashes all attacks on the barrel - barrel is stunned - Vincent - moves to the barrel - shillelagh misses - Royston destroys the barrel finishing the combat # session 11 (06/07/2024) ***date is Uktar 5th 1519DR ?*** - down in the hull - the fight with the mimics ended - Calcine starts being groggy and sits down on the floor - the mimic is degrading the material with its acidic blood - Jezz mentions it needs to be neutralize with a base - Calcine moves towards the corpse - offers some of her cooking supplies to help - pours baking soda to counteract the acid - pours flours to absorb some of the blood - this corpse is stable for now - the other corpses start to having leaking water - Duck asks Captain Bronze Bones where is the repair person is - the bosun is one of the crew members that were saved - he is for now still shell shocked - Jezz has an idea - casts way of frost on one of the holes - the hole expands from the freezing water - Royston starts moving water out through the top at a fast monk speed - Duck - considers using wax to plug the holes with wax - not enough alone it might need more as it might get pushed out - finds a lot of very nice scented candles - Duck hates its smell lavender - Calcine offers help to melt the candles - proceeds to cast flame blade - starts melting the wax to be used to plug - Vincent levitates the melted candle container - wax is poured over - Vincent through entangle coax the boat into sealing the fissures and holes - party starts to leave - Vincent challenges Jezz to a race > 30 i can race you to the top - after protesting Jezz joins - Vincent casts fly and goes - Jezz runs after - Vincent wins - Nybarg talks wit the captain - offers to help repairing the ship - a chance to learn more about woodworking - captain agrees - captain mentions that this might not be a random bad load - it was malicious intent - maybe pirates - might get their visit at some point - in the quarters - party discuss about missing stuff from home - sun and more - party is surprised that Calcine complains about the blandness of food she learnt here - she spiced the food so ppl didn't realize - Royston doesn't feel good at the moment - Calcine heals a bit - Vincent offers to cast sendings for the party - not one has someone he can contact - Duck dodges the question about Vincent knowing someone he knows - casts sending to his mom > I'm sorry for suddenly leaving, It was not my intent. I hope you and father understand. I will try to be home soon. Love you - she answers in a calm voice > When you are back let me know, your father is still away but we need to talk - casts another sending to Lucy'fyre Sat'ann > Heading to Neverwinter. I want to meet you and father, something’s wrong in the Shadowfell, Raven Queen has Vanished, Orcus is trying to take control - ***REDACTED answer*** - Vincent doesn't look good - getting out of a trance - Vincent informs Jezz that he called her mom and gave her the info - it is a widespread transplanar problem - cult is trying to spread on a mass scale - to make population surrender in carnage and violence - could be Orcus or someone mascarading as him - Lords of the 9 are concerned about it - Lucy will keep an eye on her party - worried that Frug might know more than what he let of - a trip to Baldur's Gate might be in the order - RdV with Lucy and Rolen in Neverwinter has been postponed - Aurora wants her son back *now* - Jezz tries to downplay the gravity - Vincent insists it is more grave than that - Calcine what is the order of operations once back in the material plane - going down to Waterdeep - Calcine mentions that looking for more info and gear would be useful - Vincent mentions Candlekeep - Calcina has Chucks cookbook - it could work with shadowfell recipies - party might need to go all the way down to Baldur's Gae too - Calcine mentions that Candlekeep is also not far from home - would be nice to go there - before a sudden realisation of what would happen when her mom knows all that happened - Vincent doesn't understand the gravity of it - both Nybarg and Calcine try to convince Vincent of Blaze's temper - Calcine take her temper from her mom as she is a fire genasi smith - and she is worse *by far* - Vincent insists he can do it - Calcine thanks Vincent for his sacrifice of telling the tale to her mother - Duck feels a tingling - zone of wild magic - Duck is affected by it and people needs to be careful about it - Duck mentions it to Calcine - Calcine doesn't think she is affected - Duck mentions it to Vincent - Vincent feels like he'd be fine - Duck mutters that Buck was affected - Vincent lights up at that revelation > Yes... I do know number 2 - Vincent asks as a repayment of the favor he was owed the story about that number 2/Buck - when Duck is calm and sober - party goes to rest a bit - Duck casts Leomund's Tiny Hut - no wild magic - party goes to sleep - Jezz is plagued by her thoughts - ***REDACTED*** # session 12 (20/08/2024) ***date is Uktar 6th 1519DR ?*** - next day on the boat - Duck is under the weather and stays down on his bunk - on the deck - the weather is a bit rough - Calcine casts water walk - Nybarg starts learning the beadworks of the Vistani - Baba Javessa is teaching him - Vincent inspiring leader the party and captain - Royston helps the crew - learning how to do the riggings, ropes and knots - having a climb speed helps him as he can't really fall - Jezz is vibing on the deck - Calcine preps a hot meal on the deck - sauté of mushrooms and potatoes on a plancha - one had doing the burner and the other moving the ingredients - the captain likes what he is smelling asks Calcine to note the recipy for Chuck - Calcine will do that - Chuck is looking what Calcine is doing, helps and serves what she prepares - the crew is in a good mood after the nice and new meal - the wind is now blowing in a favorable direction - the captain mentions we are making great time - maybe another 2 days if we keep this luck - the mimic repair was good and avoided catastrophic damage - second half of the day - the temperature start to significantly drop - a strong mist is gathering - very thick - hard to go around - the captain looks very serious about it - mist is typically a precursor before the blending with a realm of dread - *not good* - we are about to enter a domain of dread - the captain continues course through it for now - less dangerous than failing to squirt around it - Calcine casts guidance on the captain - Vincent riffs to motivate the crew - the captain makes the boat go slower for safety - the wind starts to pick up quite a bit - the fog dissipates a bit because of it - making up for the time lost due to the speed down - the captain invites the party for a dinner - some of the Vistanis are teling tales about their stories - a lot are refugees from Barovia - there was there a vampire lord that was slained - they are glad the mist was no more than mist in the end and not a blending like there - this is the big crew dinner - Vincent sends a sending - ***REDACTED*** - Calcine realises that today is her dad's birthday > happy birthday dad ! sorry these last days were kind of busy so i did not have time to send a letter ! Kisses Calcine - Flint Radko responds > Oh this is new, is this magic, did they teach you this in the city this is wonderful now...love you too - party goes to bed ***date is Uktar 6th 1519DR ?*** - next day - right before the morning hits - Royston hears a blood curdling scream - strong vistani has their head caved in - Royston shouts everybody awake - *fighting script* - Royston - asks the captain what happened to strong vistani - tries to see what happened - strong vistani's head has been caved in by some sort of blunt force - the weight of the hit was clean and broke the bed - asks defiant vistani to stay behind him and she obliges - she agrees - Royston grabs defiant vistani - takes her to the staircase - defiant vistani moves upstairs and gets out - captain Bronze Bones - pulls a spyglass and looks around the room - they are invisible and came through the mist - having stuff to reveal invisible is nice or the encounter would be deadly - Vincent - gets out of the quarters - sees the scene - inspires Bronze Bones - casts fearie fire - an invisible stalker gets revealed - Bronze Bones gets hit also - another invisible force slams and kills hungry vistani - Calcine - gets out towards the action - casts toll the dead on the first invisible stalker - Jezz - gets out of the bunks - step of the wind to the first invisible stalker - hits the first invisible stalker - less affected by this non magical damage - Nybarg - activates claws - transforms - runs in the middle - get tagged by the second invisible stalker - stops near it - Royston - moves to the first invisible stalker - punches hard on it - stunning strikes it - Bronze Bones - pulls out Madame Ginette his scimitar - unloads on the first invisible stalker killing it - the bardic inspiration helping on the last one - Vincent drops fearie fire - pulls out from behind the barrels an old jet black battle axe - throws it towards Jezz - it is a lending and it is a +2 battleaxe - Vincent - moves near where Nybarg got hit - casts shillelagh - swings where he thinks the second invisible stalker missing it - second invisible stalker slashes at Nybarg and Vincent - Nybarg - sniffs the general direction - moves towards the zone - flicks the blood of his crimson right wound revealing it - slashes at it - Calcine - moves to next to Nybarg - throws her flour where the second invisible stalker was - it is revealed for Jezz' turn - Jezz - moves to the flour covered invisible stalker - crits and slashes it with the new axe - punches and stuns it - the flour falls to the ground - Royston - run towards the second invisible stalker - hits it twice - Bronze Bones moves towards vistanis to protect them - Vincent - casts detect thoughts - can't peer deeper - can keep tabs on the whereabouts of the second invisible stalker - invisible stalker is stunned - Nybarg unleashes on the second invisible stalker - Calcine - summons her flame blade - attacks the second invisible stalker with it - Jezz slashes and punches killing the invisible stalker - Vincent still hears the thoughts of everyone - Calcine si very stressed looking at the dead vistanis - Jezz thinks she is not leaving the ship without the axe - Calcine runs towards hungry vistani - casts revivify - takes out her diamond - smears it with blood - places it on her dead chest - the diamond crushes itself - the blood and diamond powder seeps in pumping the heart back > are you ok ? - hands her a chef snack - casts life transference - Chuck comes in with a diamond - mixes it in his soup - feeds it to the dead strong vistani - casting revivify on it - force feeds a bunch of goodberries # session 13 (17/08/2024) ***date is Uktar 6th 1519DR ?*** - Quarters - Hungry Vistani is back alive - Bronze Bone thanks Calcine for reviving her - Vincent mentions that we read the thoughts of the creatures - might have been a targeted attack - these are summoned or enslaved entities given a task - talking about killing the crew and scouring the vessel - captain bronze bones is not surprised - there are quite a few different people that want him dead for various reason - most of the day goes by - weather is very calm - approaching Evernight - blue haze around the coast - boat itself seems to travel too quickly - the cliff is approaching rapidly - it is immediately daylight - in front the city of Neverwinter is here - this was a trick to make think that the ship was crashing to observer - Party finally is back in the proper plane ! - Jezz thanks the sun - Calcine turns her hair back on fire again - arriving in Neverwinter - Vincent casts sending to Aurora > Reached Neverwinter, getting my bearings, can you set up a big dinner for when I get back ? - she aknowledges and asks to say when closer to Waterdeep so Lucy can grab the party - start of the afternoon - Calcine and Jezz talk a bit - a bit heated - Vincent tries to but in - Jezz barks back at him that saying ladies did not ever work with his sisters - it's the case - Calcine's hair is burning hotter and dangrously close to Vincent - the captain asks Calcine to try and not light the cannons up with that - hair simmers down - captain will deal with paper works - party talks about how to get back home - after a while party decides to go by road after a night - Calcine shows some of the shiftweave outfits - she added some of her owns - also the pirate themed ones from session 0 - the captain asks Jezz to come see him - he asks Jezz to keep the axe - hands back the pouch of gold she gave - it is heavier > for protecting my crew - city proper - party is considering that they'll need winter gear - Jezz mentions that just the skirt might not be anough - after a think the skirt idea gave Calcine inspiration and starts dragging away Jezz for some girl shopping - Calcine - above ankle high creamy leather trekking boots - thick wool dark crimson tights - charcoal knee long skirt - dark crimson wool pull-over shirt - long charcoal knitted scarf - hair on fire - Jezz - has her own ideas - Calcine - adds confortable and hot trekking socks and undies - also gives a scarf matching hers - Calcine and Jezz go to buy a new 300gp diamond - Driftwood tavern - *desc* - ornate building - people are on their best behavior - not very a very loud tavern - looks pricy but very nice - Chuck places a sachel on the bar near a goblin barmaid - party is the escorted in a private room - after a while - some Vistani are here - a lot of food is brought - Chuck is throwing food - one of the Vistani talks to the party - thanks Calcine for saving her daughter (hungry Vistani) - heard the party was considering trekking starting tonight - offers the party to pay for the night for their stay - party agrees to get one last night of confort for the sake of the city folks - *date is indeed Uktar 6th 1519DR* - Vincent - groups up all his notes about the shadowfell and what happened - goes a bit in the city looking for a Harper place - organizes a dead drop of the notes and the call from Quick - casts a sending to Quick > Made a dead drop in neverwinter, going to speak to my superior in waterdeep, be safe, we will survive this. - Quick answers > ok i will meet you there in a tnday, in baldur's gate right now. - Calcine asks Jezz if they show the outfits to the boys in the morning - Jezz doubt they'll notice ***date is Uktar 7th 1519DR*** - tavern - Jezz and Nybarg are hungover - Calcine hands the cloth bag to Jezz and casts lesser restoration on her - party goes down - someone is prepping breakfast there already - party eats and discuss again how to go back to waterdeep - Jezz smells cloves - scent of Lucy's cigarettes - it comes from outside - Jezz goes to the door - Vincent asks what she is doing - Jezz opens the door - Lucy is on the other side > you come back and don't tell me ? - Jezz and Lucy argue - Jezz can't cast sending - Lucy asks how Jezz went there - no clue - Lucy tries to break the ice by complemented her outfit - Lucy enters and joins the table - there is quite a it of discussion that happens - Lucy and Jezz both see pissed the whole time - Lucy knows a bit about some of us, including the transformation that Nybarg did the first night - Jezz, Vincent and Lucy talk for a while about what happened in the shadowfell - Cakcine doesn't like the dynamic between Lucy and Jezz - Lucy teleports the party back to Waterdeep