Chapter 3 - Session 15a
Leaving the safety of Fort Hope led by a strange and unwilling halfling, our intrepid band travel onward towards a questionable goal. Benjamin and Yowturde have decided to stay at the fort, seeking answers to their own fates in the world of an afterlife. Guided by Hekate's wish to find the acolyte, Diana follows Ogden's directions.
Ogden warns the venture will be long and dangerous as the monochrome fields hide the souls of the vengeful, the wicked, and the lost. Ogden sternly points out the real threat of the "Collectors" those in Fort Joy mentioned. Beings of unknown origin that harvest the essences of the fallen without emotion.
Miles are now behind with yet more ahead, Ogden hops on top of his black cat. With a smirk he asks if the group is ready for when the night finally comes. An occurrence that happens only once a month that lasts for an entire day. A period of total darkness.
The curtain of black falls and Ogden vanishes. His droning voice is replaced with the cries of the monsters that creep in the dark.
Hungry and ravenous creatures that represent the mutilated forms of what they once were chase down our heroes. Whispers of Ogden float in the air providing a sense of direction in the black. Hurrying to escape the teeth and claws they fight at seemingly every step. Bellows and screams follow them up until they come face to face with Ogden who stands on top of a short stone walled well.
A putrid scent pouring out of the narrow borehole with Ogden's hand pointing downward. This is where you will find who you seek, Ogden tells the group and jumps down to a splash of water.
Each dive down. The cramping walls narrow, water feels thick, and the air sits heavy. Deeper they must go, clawing their way down further into the dark... until.
One last hand grip pulls each of them through and they land in a murky tunnel with the well water held above them, and a singular path forward. The tight walls of smooth stone open up to an expansive room dimly lit by some candles and glowing baubles hung on various branches of a petrified tree embedded in the far wall. A tree grown around a bleached antlered skull with eyes impossibly dark. Standing in the presence of Gra, the Acolyte of Hekate, the Avatar of Death.
Gra's growling voice echoes against the damp walls with Nite’s approach. Calling to Hekate's words, Nite beseeches Gra to allow them all passage back to the world of the living. Gra accepts their request, but under the condition that with their second chance they eliminate the growing scourge of Necromantic magic. Playing with the dead breaks the cycle which Gra and Hekate work to balance, and mortals are toying with these unnatural magics.
Directed towards another pool of water within the conduit they swim back up, back to the land they call home. Erupting from a new well, back in Ilominu.
Each of them stands only as their spirits. Each of them except Ogden who is nowhere to be found. The group travel across the countryside floating past the fields to return to the orc camp. Retrieving their bodies and belongings they are whole once more.
Diana standing tall back in her true form feels a bit lighter than usual. Noticing that her trusty Runic Sword passed down from her mother is missing, in its place is simply a note from Fyrn:
“Come find me in Westvale”