DND Blog

A place to keep DND session recaps, from various campaigns.

The Eighty-Sixth Session

July 8, 2023, Campaign: As the ground quakes, evil wakes

The mysterious entity under the tree is revealed as Belladonna, also known as Nightshade, Poisoner of the Mother of the Forest! Enemy of Wint! Furthermore, she's the patron of Salris and his brother! We skedaddle back to Setton, and do some shopping. Salris leaves on a quest.

Table of Contents

  1. Last session
  2. Croak
  3. Salris' old patron
  4. Previously.
  5. Belladonna
  6. Setton
  7. That night
  8. Next Session

Last session

We went to the Woven Council and got Ren's affairs settled. We partied with the locals, and drunk-teleported to Kerjes' Banyo Tree, where we routed Eta'el. Percival talked to the Banyo Tree, and learned of things, and then Percival realized the mysterious voice we heard wasn't the tree. It was something else. We found a gold key at the bottom of Kerjes' Hoard.

At the bottom of the tree, we found an entrance under the roots.

Croak

The roots are covered in frogs and toads. Percival investigates the illusion of the entrance, and we follow him through.

In the room under the tree is a wizened feature, black hair tied back, with very long arms. It grasps the bars of its cage, and says, "Hello. You have come.

"Has the dragon been defeated?" it asks. We see that its eyes are sewn shut.

We spend some time talking with it. It wants to be released. Apparently Kerjes sought this person's power and position, and this person planted the Great Banyo tree. They didn't keep track of how long it's been; they don't seem to track time at all.

The cauldron in the center of the room flares to life.

Kerjes harnessed this being's powers to get tasks fulfilled; sometimes using this being to spy on us.

A crow flies into the room, through the bars, and lands on the figure's shoulder.

"What's stopping you from leaving?" asks Ryltar. She beckons him closer. "Nope!" he says.

"I can show you."

"You can tell me."

"The dragon had great resources. Ones to trap those who flitter about."

Salris is clearly holding back emotions; flat of affect. "What do you want free? You wanted me, before. What else do you want? My old patron."

Salris' old patron

The hag turns to look at Salris. "I just wanted to be ffree, to travel."

"What are you?"

"Prisoner."

"That's not good enough," says Salris, showing some emotion.

"I don't knpow. What do you want from me? You see me, and this is all I am."

"What about the crow?" Asks Jerry. "They keep me company. They're the only things that visit."

"So what does that make you? An Archfey?" asks Ryltar.

She shudders. "I will not say that in the least. They are vain, vicious creatures. Arrogant."

She dislikes Kerjes because Kerjes had no master.

Ryltar decides to pry. "So when Salris found a different path, that might have ground your gears a little bit?"

"You have moved on, and so I have I. You were possibly for captain, and I have chosen a captain for myself."

"Is choosing a path not from you, not choosing a path above?" "I am still with those with potential, with the means to seize it." "What is your name?" "I have forgotten to introduce myself. I am Belladonna," she says, and mockingly, royally, bows.

Ryltar says that he'd like to talk about this with us outside. And manages to persuade her (28 v 27) that we can go. We leave, as a burst of crows streams forth from behind her.

Previously.

Session 28, when Ryltar picks up the Ice Heart of Winter:

Belladonna, your return is both a testament of your power and the doom of the world. I curse your existence and hope you suffer a death worthy of your treachery and wickedness. I only wish to see it as well as to see your reaction to my… well…welcome to my sanctum. I hope your sister… was laid to rest gently.

But if by small chance of fate that someone who doesn't strive for your empowering manages to find me, hear this: I give this to you, to carry away and to hide from those who would have it fall into evil hands. There will be others. Keep this safe to prevent her return. (weakens)

I shall be with my friends once more. (dies)

That was Wint, speaking to whomever found the Ice Heart of Winter. Ryltar found it, and saw this vision.

Belladonna was Nightshade, the sister of the Mother of the Forest, who poisoned and killed her.

Belladonna

We are followed by the crows. Ryltar tells them off, saying he wanted to talk privately, but they stick around.

Ryltar asks how Percival feels about this. She's responsible for the death of his patron, and has enough power to be the patron of others.

Jerry says that, before we release her, we should find the other captain, and ask him what his feelings are about his patron. Which means talking to Salris' brother.

Ryltar asks Percival for the key, so he can send it someplace safe, where we can retrieve it later. The birds swoop in, and one does snag the key.

Ryltar casts Cone of Cold, destroying the flock.

There's a rustling of dry leaves, a picking of a dry wind. "You had this. You could've freed me."

Enter initiative.

We hear a rip in the fabric of reality, and a black fleshy membrane pours out of the slit, and explodes. Con saves all around, with only Jerry and Vurguron passing. 23/46 HP necrotic.

Three demons fall out of the membrane. Frog demons. We hear in the rustling leaves, "Free me." Ryltar replies, "No!"

The wind picks up. "Leaving so soon? I only wish to collect the fallen dragon's body. But oh well. I will send another. My champion."

Ryltar subtly casts Teleport and brings us all to Ryltar's ex girlfriend's house.

Setton

Recalling that his ex doesn't want to see him, Ryltar immediately subtly Shadow Steps out, taking the clanking Vurguron with him. Percival follows with Jerry, and Salris invisibly walks out.

We discuss what to do. Ryltar suggests brunch. We Prestidigitate ourselves clean, and realize that we left drippings and viscera all over her floor. Ryltar buys a small velvet bag and puuts it with 20 platinum on her doorstep.

And then we go off to brunch, at the Hunter's Hall. They recognize us, and let us in.

The contract board doesn't have anything new; no ARN contracts, still the standing order for tusks of a certain monster.

We order food and agonize about what to do next.

Ryltar walks out, goes to visit the temple of Denier. He writes down some more Good Deeds on his Good Deeds sheet. The monk he had talked to finds him; they walk and talk. Ryltar feels bad about the hit, and wants to make that right. He decides to dedicate himself to Denier, to get a holy symbol of that god.

The monk asks him if he's sure, and then begins the ceremony.

Back in the bar, we take a short rest, and Percival plays some music.

Ryltar gains a Blessing and a Ceremony and donates some 20 platinum to the temple. He gets an empty book to write in, because writing is how people pray to Denier.

After a long discussion, we discuss these issues:

Since we're here, we decide to talk to Rathkan, the retired Dragonborn guy. Vurguron goes and taps him on the shoulder. The old man had given him a shield, and he asks about it. Vurguron says he got an upgrade. The old man basks in the glory of the glowing platinum shield, not really listening as Ryltar lies about where he got it. Vurguron says he's going to continue in his father's legacy of using the shield in battle, instead of returning it to South haven.

Rathkan protests. He says it's disruptive to the politics of the South Haven. The theft of the shield has decreased trust in the Scaled Legion and in the system of houses that govern the South Haven, but particularly trust in Vurguron's House. The commoners besiege the Houses; Vurguron was a last-ditch plan for reinstating trust, and it was also his last chance for redemption.

Vurguron says that he does understand that it's politically important, but — he tries to find a way to say that it's necessary for the safety of the world.

Ryltar suggests that we could show them that the shield has been reclaimed, to prop up society, but we don't have to leave it. Vurguron says that he thinks the shield is better when it is put to use defending the people, not when it's on display.

Rathkan says he'll let the South Haven and Vurguron's Father know that the shield is safe. "I know of that shield and its legacy. You will need to practice with it before you return."

"This may place a target on my back from the rival families, but I believe that the strength of the hero is what our house needs the most."

After that, shopping: potions of healing, and an Oil of Sharpness for Percival's weapon.

That night

We spend the night in Percival's Posh Palace. For lunch we had had ostrich legs, so tonight we're having roast whole ostrich and salmon and wine.

That night, Salris knocks on Ryltar's door. "I have come to respect you as a friend. But from what happened this morning, I need to take care of my brother."

"You don't want us by your side?"

"We are tied to something bigger. And I don't want to loop in anyone else beside that."

"It's certainly been an honor, traveling with you. We've grown a lot. Look at me, I've got a holy symbol now."

"Yeah. But the world's gone sideways."

"You know, I'm going to really miss you when we're doing battle, when you stroll up and kill everything."

"I'm going to miss you, saving our ass all the time."

"Let us know if you need our help, or whatever, once we're done. We've still got to give your stuff."

"Don't die."

"Don't die, yourself."

They hug, and Ryltar gives Salris the Potion of Gaseous Form for emergencies. Salris keeps his Dancing Khopesh in case the pharoah gets dispatched by Belladonna to Lanthet, since Ryltar is worried about that. Ryltar offers the Deck of Many Things, but Salris says Ryltar is the only person he'd trust to carry it.

They banter a bit about the stupid stairs in Percival's Painful Pile, and then Salris goes back down to his room. A tear freezes on Ryltar's cheek.

Next Session