The Fourteenth Session

November 2, 2019, Campaign: As the ground quakes, evil wakes

It is the morning of the solstice.

Over Breakfast

We traipse downstairs, to the Forest Floor's bar.

Jerry moves to go pay the weregild.

Ryltar tells Salris he won't fault him if he runs. Salris says he'll go with Jerry.

Bugfood borrows Salris' spoon, and talks with the spoon for ten minutes about the trees of his homeland. Bugfood says he'll stay in the hotel, but then elects to come with the rest of the Party.

The whole Party goes to the government's money people. Jerry leads the way back to the place, in the governmental buildings. We are led to the dwarf in charge of accounts, who tells us that our debts have been paid off. We express confusion; he's surprised that we didn't know. "Just, go to the celebration; you'll see," he says.

We wander through town, following the crowds to the central intersection, which is decorated with banners and flowers in spring motifs. Salris Prestidigitations his clothes to match the colors. There's hundreds of workers setting up for the day, placing flowers and streamers and setting up maypoles. And there's a presentation stage being set up in the middle of the main traffic circle.

Jerry tells the Party what Majorie told her last night: that the major celebration would be in the evening.

Bugfood demonstrates his newfound knowledge of Speak with Plants; Salris doesn't understand that Bugfood is speaking with plants rather than to plants.

Salris suggests we go speak with Ren, since we should. Bugfood goes to the arena; everyone else follows Salris to the Eveningstar Forum.

Bugfood in the arena

Bugfood walks to the arena, and finds a janitor. He says he won the competition the previous evening, and would like his prize. The janitor explains that the prize would be handed out at the ceremony this evening.

So Bugfood leaves the arena.

Finding Ren, and talking with him

We find Ren's office, but he's not in. Salris asks Ren's secretary; Ren is apparently off talking to the Magistrate of the Church of Corellon Larethian.

So we walk all the way across town to the temple district. While we walk, we run into Bugfood, who is telling people to not be alarmed, that everything is okay. They're amused by his antics.

At the temple, we're told that the Magistrate is busy, but since we've said that we were looking for the same person that the Magistrate is talking to, so we're let in. And in the hallway outside the Magistrate's office, we hear through the closed door Ren yelling at the Magistrate about the Magistrate's ego and broken promises.

Vurguron wants to bust into the room, sword drawn; the Party persuades him otherwise and he sheaths it.

Ren repeats, "I told you; no one would have died if you had just listened to me."

The Magistrate yells, "Enough" and the room falls quiet.

The secretary steps in and tells of the Party waiting on Ren.

Ren tells Andraste that "she" had looked to Andraste for protection, and he left. So we return to the Forest Floor, and at Vurguron's insistence, we use his room for the conference.

Ren says, "There are some people that need to know where they sit, sometimes."

So Vurguron sits on his bed.

Ren asks what happened in the portal, so we we tell the story of killing the young white dragon. He tells that kalina was arrested, and convicted this morning, and executed by beheading. Jerry raises the question of the source of the egg; Ren says that Kalina felt like she was compelled to do it without any means of communication otherwise. "And magical compulsion is not a defense in this city?" asks Jerry. Ren says that the jury was in a hanging mood, because of the goblin attack. And Kalina was not the type to gallivant around and make up stories; she was this skilled little girl who wanted to be a performer.

Bugfood asks about the prize. Salris says later; Ren says that the prizes would be handed out at the celebration this evening. But Salris and Ryltar turn the conversation back to what Ren wanted to tell us.

Ren says, "THings have quieted down, and no one would be amiss as to what had happened. The past is behind us."

Ryltar: "We are sorry about kalina. We tried not to slay her."

Ren: "They will be anouncing that — there will be quite a reveal at the celebration."

Ryltar: "What of the coblin incursion?"

Ren: "There was much damage to property, but luckily not much life lost. About a hundred and twelve people killed, but it could have been more."

Jerry: "And what of the pink jester that was possessing goblins, and causing people to laugh when they thought of attacking it?"

Ren: "Many goblins do not have access to magic. THey have evocation magic, not this thing that possessed them. This would be something different." The Party makes their history/religion/arcana checks, and we've determined that more than one person can be afflicted by this mania for laughter.

Rytar suggests it's a spirit of some kind? But then he brings up the weregild owed, and how the debt was fulfilled.

Ren says that with our saving the city, the cancellation of the debt is the least that the council could do. And that they plan to award us the Spectacle winnings, since the Spectacle was incomplete.

Ren relays that we'll be asked to be at the start of the main celebration this evening, in a whole group. At

Bugfood asks how the people feel. Ren says that those frozen in the arena were in a form of suspended animation. And that the people camping outside the West Haven have moved into the city. The South gate that we fought at saw the lightest fighting. Vurguron tries to sound wise.

Ren says that most of the city is oblivious to most of the actual goings-on; the trial of Kalina was quiet and limited to those who could interrogate her successfully.

Ren says that "no one we lost was …"

Ryltar replies, "Well, you know where to find us. I don't know where our paths will lead us, but we aim to go to the Sky Diamond Academy."

Bugfood: "We must find the king astronomer."

Ren: "You should talk to Guy, a friend of mine." He borrows Jerry's book, and writes a letter of recommendation, which is given to Ryltar to carry.

Ren tells Jerry that Majorie has been of help in this situation.

Around the town

We wander the town. Bugfood casts Sky Write to put "There is no reason to panic" in the sky, to calm people down. Ren says, "stop."

Ryltar spends his time schmoozing; people shake his hands. Salris goes with him.

Vurguron attempts to get blackout drunk; he goes to the Willows where he saw a green dragonborn. The bar is wrecked, trampled. He looks for a whole bottle. But so is everyone else; there's not much left. Vurguron says, "Hey, looters, hands off." "We're only yrying thelp." He finds the top of a bottle buried under a table, but just the top of the bottle. And then he returns to the festivities.

Things on sale: bread, sweets, flowers, masks. Ryltar goes looking for fine clothes, and Salris follows. He finds what he's looking for, in deep blue with an open collar and snowdrops at the wrists.

Jerry knows that the festivities will wrap up with a dance towards the end of the night. She goes looking for adventurer's clothing, and finds some.

The Party meanders through a gaming area. And Salris buys an entire shank of lamb to nom on. The rest of the Party spends a silver apiece for food; Bugfood pops Goodberry, eats one, and then gives the remaining berries to homeless people.

Vurguron plays ring-the-bell, with a 12 he fails. Tula gets a 13 and 20, ringing the bell for net +1 gold. Jerry misses her first ring, and then knocks the bell of the thing with a 27, for net 1 gold. Bugfood Wildshapes into an ape, for 17 plus spoon luck for 19, impressing the people around. Tula, with a 17, 18, and 24, continues to play the game for as long as they'll let her, winning 17 gold.

Vurguron plays throw-the-axe, throwing at the hard target 12 feet away. With a 9 he misses, throwing the axe straight up. With a 5 on the dex save he takes 1 point slashing damage as it hits his foot.

Salris plays throw-the-knife, as does Ryltar. Ryltar gets 22, hitting the target dead center on his first try, netting 4 gold. Salris loses three times, then hits, netting 2 gold.

The evening's festivities

Eventually, people start closing up shop, and heading towards the center of town. We follow.

There are some familiar faces in the seats atop the stage: the Magistrate, Ren, Jalar, the people of the trial. Calloway isn't there. There's folks in traditional robes. Bugfood is wearing his bedazzled armor.

On the stage in the traffic circle is an arc of many chairs, with a stretch of six empty chairs on one side, an empty seat in the middle, and another empty chair a few seats further down adjoined by the Law Master and the Mayor.

Ryltar hangs out near the stage, and is directed to sit in one of the six empty seats. Vurguron is likewise directed to the seats, and so he sits next to a younger human with gold robes and slicked-back hair. "You look very erudite and dynamic," Vurguron says.

"Vurguron, please, not here," begs Ryltar.

"Thank you, says the human, who continues his conversation on the other side of his body. The rest of the Party sits in the chairs.

The crowd has benches and standing room, with a small open space at the front.

The moment draws near: the seats are all taken. People are finishing their food and drinks.

The same emcee that presented the win of the Spell-Slinging Spectacle steps up, is cheered, and begins to explain what had transpired the night before. He tells of what we did, of the attack on the goblin camps. "And in the inferno, we had lost the valiant defender of her people, Thalia. She went out to defend, and was slain."

Bugfood pipes up: "Is there salad?" Salris glares at him, saying "There was a salad, but it's named after a guy that died a thousand years ago." Bugfood spends a spell slot to Speak with Plants with his salad, but it's dead.

Majorie comes up, recognizes the tables, and tells us that the person sitting next to Vurguron is the Master of Trade. Tula's sitting next to Vurguron; she leans forward and catches the Master of Trade's eye, saying "I apologize for my friend's eloquence."

There is a moment of slience for Thalia and the people who died.

And then a cheer for the renewal of life and stuff. The celebration kicks off, and we are presented as "those who made this celebration possible."

The Party awkwardly waves.

We are presented with a small chest with 1750 gold for the Party, which is first, second, and third prizes for one competition: the single competition of the Spell-Slinger Spectacle. The group competition's money went towards our debt, it looks like. Bugfood claims the chest; we split the gold among the party at 350 gold each.

The musicians start up for the dances that would cap the night.

Vurguron tries to seem smart, to find any work for the Party with the Master of Trade. With a 5 Persuasion, the Master of Trade has no need of our friends.

Salris sees among the crowd the same dark-haired dwarf, clapping to the beat. Salris watches him.

The evening passes. It's a nice time of release. No debt, no tasks, nothing held over us.

The dwarf walks around, talking to people, and at the end of the night Salris talks to him. Rezzik Brazzik is the dwarf's name. They'll meet at dawn at the West Gate, to discuss the new business.

How well received are we by the crowd? Our performance checks are mixed: Bugfood and Ryltar high, Salris and Tula medium, Vurguron and Jerry low. We're not hailed as heroes, but nor are we hated. We spent the evening telling our story over and over. Bugfood told every story but the story of the dragon. The children are enraptured by his telling of the habits of squirrels.

Majorie asks Jerry to dance; Jerry says she only dances with Jerry's mother, for very good reason. Salris offers to cut in. Jerry has passive intimidation. Majorie has a lovely time dancing with Salris; Salris not so much. Salris's performance is a natural 1 but Ryltar casts Slow on Salris for a moment to calm him down. At the end of the dance, Salris apologizes to Majorie, and bows out. Jerry manages not to fall over from laughing in the corner. Majorie says to Salris, "I was only trying to get something out of her." Salris compliments Jerry on her daughter's dancing, but doesn't relay Majorie's complaint.

Bugfood goes to bed.

The various Party members buy some rations, and other adventuring supplies.

At the end of the night, Jerry walks with Majorie, wherever Majorie is walking. Majorie heads back towards her apartment.

The day after the solstice.

It is the first day of the first week of Mirtul.

Salris wakes up as early as he can, and heads towards the West Gate. This early in the morning, there aren't many people up and around. Salris sees the carnage around the gate: burns, wrecked tents, moving from the North to the South.

Rezzik surveys a collapsed tent. Salris walks up to him. Rezzik says, "So, yous aid you had some business?" "A completed contract." "Let's take a walk."

They walk south, around the edge of the encampments.

"I have good news, bad news, and bad news."

"Let's start with the bad news. You don't have the money."

"Because someone got to the money before I did. I don't have a contract with a corpse. And one of my headhunters betrayed me; I don't work with her anymore."

"I'm surprised she's still alive."

"What do you think 'no longer works with us' means? Good news is that she did manage to complete an item of business before she left. She did recover the enchanted armor."

"Ah yes."

"You said you were interested in that?"

"Sure."

The dwarf looks Salris up and down. "Do you wear chain or scale?"

"I wear a breastplate now. Scale might hurt my ability to sneak."

The dwarf pulls a set of grey scale from his satchel, with red lining, with scales that curl outwards in points, and a waist and shoulders that curl to points as well.

"What does it do," asks Salris, as he pops Detect Magic. Some sort of evocation.

"It's a basic plus-one armor, but if you do unarmed attacks, it does extra damage."

"You got anything else?"

"Well, that comes to my other bad news. We got another contract that got nullified." They mm at each other. "You said that you had news?" asks the dwarf.

"One of the contracts that you asked me to complete was completed."

"Which one?"

"High Mother."

The dwarf immediately frowns. "Now Salris, you know what happens when someone betrays me, correct?"

"Yes."

"And you saw me at the celebration."

"And I'm aware of what you heard."

"She died of natural causes; the contract is null and void."

Salris is telling the truth as he tries to convince the dwarf that Thalia asked for death. The dwarf disbelieves. "Why would I fuck you over?" asks Salris. "I haven't done that before."

"Do you have any proof?" Salris hesitates. "Because you have no proof, because the body burned in a fire." Salris looks at the bottle in which he kept Thalia's ashes, which is now empty.

Salris fumes for a bit. "Do you have anything else besides the armor for the father contract?"

"Nope."

"Any other contracts?"

• Guy Pennet
• Glyntar Stonecleaver, who had had the scale mail, who is dead
• Boris Highhelm

"So let me get this straight. The four thousand gold that I had—"

"Gone."

"I'll take the armor."

Salris dons the scale mail, taking an hour to put it on, and walk back to the West Gate. He attunes to it along the way, and walks back to the Forest Floor.

The Party's breakfast

We wake up to a lingering stupor. Ryltar is hungover.

Ryltar thanks Fenross for his hospitality. Fenross thanks Bugfood and other people for their advertising. Bugfood remembers being asked to autograph someone's bottom. Salris remembers autographing someone's breasts.

Vurguron has "Ryltar" written on his face. Bugfood salutes Vurguron as he comes down the stairs. Ryltar looks at the writing and starts snickering. Salris walks in at this time, and laughs at Vurguron's face. Ryltar points at Salris's armor and asks what the fuck is he wearing.

Jerry reaches behind the bar, fishes around until she finds a rag, and throws it in Vurguron's face, saying, "Wash your face in the morning."

Ryltar goes over to inspect Salris's armor, because it looks maniacal. With an 8 investigation, it's pointy and got has a red undercoat. Salris then realizes that he can't take it off.

"You purchased this? From whom?"

"It was a reward, from my past." Ryltar looks at Salris with a face of what the fuck were you thinking? Salris continues: "Back before I came here, I took a contract, and I saw the guy with the contract last night, and he gave me this armor rather than paying me."

"And you put it on without checking it?"

"I can't check it like that. Also what's up with Vurguron?"

"You should go find Ren, who has divination, who can tell us what this armor does."

Vurguron notices his reflection in a glass, and asks Ryltar why. Neither of them know why Ryltar autographed Vurguron's face, but Ryltar's calligraphy is fantastic. Jerry scrubs Vurguron's face a little bit in passing.

Jerry needs to go find Majorie, but the rest of the Party wants to go to the Sky Diamond Academy, and to depart that day.

The Evenstar Forum

The Party, save Jerry, goes to Ren's office, and knocks. No answer. The secretary says he's at the Woven Council; that's kinda far to bother him with a message.

So they go to the church of Corellon Larethian, and find a priest, and ask about removing the curse.

The brother who had previously removed the were-rat curses asks if we know anything about the curse and the armor. The armor looks menacing, has abjuration magic. The priest says that he can temporarily lessen the effects of the curse, to allow him to remove it once, but then he'll lose attunement to the armor. If he put it on again, he'd attune again, and the curse would once more take hold.

To dispel the curse without dispelling all magic on the armor would be a very high-level spell. They'd need to talk to the Magistrate. Without any sort of divination magic, the priest can't identify the curse.

Salris wants the curse identified before having it removed, but having the armor removed would be nice. And the wizards at the Sky Diamond Academy might be able to identify it.

Salris goes to talk to the Magistrate, and the secretary lets us into the Magistrate's office.

Ryltar says to the Magistrate, "I feel like we've seen each other too often in the last week, but we're leaving here shortly."

Salris begs the Magistrate for help removing the armor. The Magistrate facepalms, and Ryltar agrees.

But the Magistrate won't identify the spell. "Learn," he says. Ryltar agrees that Ryltar might.

The Magistrate asks what the armor does. Salris explains the punching and defense, and that it's given him an improved access to the vocabulary of his native tongue, which wasn't something that Salris had told the Party before.

The Magistrate says he isn't able to identify the curse, "and even if I did, would I tell you?" he asks Salris.

"Would you tell me?" asks Ryltar.

The Magistrate whispers to Ryltar something.

"How bad is it?" asks Salris.

"On a scale of one to ten, about an eight," says Ryltar.

"Well, only in that situation," adds the Magistrate.

"Remove Curse would let you deattune yourself from the item. We're headed to the Sky Diamond Academy," says Ryltar.

"Go there," says the Magistrate.

And so they thank the Magistrate. "I have thoroughly enjoyed your company," he says to Ryltar.

They sit outside for a bit.

Bugfood and Vurguron

Bugfood purchases a crowbar, and runs toward the temple, screaming "Salris, Salris!" Vurguron tries to tackle Salris, to provide Bugfood better leverage, but is Held Person by Salris. Bugfood tries to use the crowbar, but Ryltar blocks it. They argue over it all, and Ryltar explains that the church has decided not to help them at this time.

"What are the chances that when we get out of town, you'll tell me?" Salris asks Ryltar.

"Very low. I'm a man of my word."

Jerry and Majorie

Jerry goes to Majorie, who she finds in the middle of packing. Majorie apologizes for the mess. Jerry says that she's going south with the Party, because she's found herself in a position of some responsibility for them.

Majorie says that she'll be joining the militia going north.

Jerry gives Majorie some advice, and 92 gold. Majorie gives her mom a small charm: the moon and the sun. "Did you make this?"

"No; there was a passerby who was willing to part with it. It's not much. Just something to remind you of me."

"I would never need to be reminded of you. You're my firstborn. I'd never forget you."

Majorie will be heading out to the North Gate tomorrow morning.

They hug, and go their separate ways.

Jerry heads to the South Gate.

Before the road

Jerry meets up; Salris asks where Majorie is going. North, says Jerry. But North is the desert.

Bugfood buys six horses: five gems.

Tula says she doesn't need a mount. She wanders off and casts Find Steed, and comes back with an elk in orange markings. We use the spare horse as a pack horse.

At the gate, Jerry asks the guard what the militia is forming for. The guard says it's going to the northwest, in the general direction of the town of Zennar, on the edge of the northern desert.

Bugfood prances his horse out the gate, riding ahead of the Party. "Let's go! The sky is having problems!"

On the road, day 1

Order of travel: Bugfood, Tula, Ryltar, Jerry, Salris, Vurguron.

Order of night watches: Salris, Jerry, Ryltar, Bugfood/Ryltar

We see lots of travelers heading home from the Haven. We stand out a little because we're on horses, letting us get ahead of the peloton. We catch up with a small caravan, and some are scorched or been rebuilt, but there aren't enough people to justify stopping to heal people.

That night, we stop at a copse of trees.

Salris takes first watch. He thinks on why his sugar daddy has abandoned him; what his relationship with his father is.

Jerry takes the next watch. It's a clear night. She reflects on her travels, her relationship with Majorie, how safe she will be.

Ryltar spends the night blinded by the Moon. It's a nice night, weird to be out in the wild again. It's the first time since the city that he's just been out. He looks for the star that's out, and easily finds the hole in the sky where it should have been.

Ryltar and Bugfood discuss the missing star. Ryltar sees a vague color of red in the distance, and then it turns black. Bugfood sees the star that was missing: it's red, and then turns black. Bugfood sees the stars around it starting to go out. Some go out and come back in.

Ryltar hears wings, of something flying towards us. The perspective is weird.

Bugfood puts out the fire.

Against the Harpies

From the darkness and blackness come seemingly-humanoid creatures, female humanoids with avian wings. Ryltar sees the swarm, flying low, maybe 20 feet up.

1. Round 1: The harpies begin to swarm.
   1. Ryltar wakes Tula, Jerry, Salris, and tries for Vurguron.
   2. Salris stands up, sees the harpies, and Eldritch Blasts one twice for eight points.
   3. The #5 Harpies approach. Jerry takes two attacks, one which hits: a bite piercing her armor. Salris takes two attacks, neither of which hit. Tula takes six attacks.
   4. Bugfood Calls the Lightning, which wakes Vurguron and hits three harpies for 22 lightning damage,
   5. Jerry hits the nearest harpy for 1d10+3d6+1 = 22 since it's affected by her Hunter's Mark and her weapon's affinity for monstrosities, and then backs up to the fire.
   6. Harpies attack Vurguron twice, Tula several times.
   7. Tula stands, attacks the harpy directly in front of her, hits for 8.
   8. Vurguron stands up, steps to the side, and casts Thunder Wave in a 15-foot cube on three harpies, for one damage on one and two on the other two.
   9. More harpies attack, Tula and Jerry. Jerry gets an attack of opportunity, dealing 19 to a #2 harpy.
2. Round 2. Tula is downed and revived by Bugfood. Salris is downed. Jerry kills three harpies; Vurguron kills another. More harpies arrive.
   1. Ryltar casts Fairy Fire, giving 6 of the harpies problems.
   2. Salris summons his pact weapon and pulls out his shield.
   3. Harpies attack Tula, Jerry, and Salris. Tula is downed. Salris takes two attacks; Jerry takes two.
   4. Bugfood Calls Lightning in an area with a lot of harpies, including Tula. The harpies and Tula take 24 damage, and Bugfood then Balm of the Summer Courts Tula to 1 HP and no death saves.
   5. Jerry kills the harpy in front of her, moves Hunter's Mark to a second harpy, kills it with Whirlwind Attacker, then uses her extra attack and a critical hit to deal 34 against a third, previously-undamaged harpy, killing it. Then she moves towards Tula.
   6. Harpies make two attacks each against Tula and Salris, downing Salris. Vurguron uses Shield to protect himself.
   7. Vurguron attacks and misses the two harpies in front of him, and then uses a class feat to attack again to kill one of them.
   8. More harpies show up on the edge of battle.
   9. #4 Harpies make attacks against Ryltar and Vurguron. Ryltar blocks one attack with Shield.
3. Round 3. Salris kills one harpy. Tula is killed. Salris is downed and revived by Bugfood.
   1. Ryltar casts Chilling Hands on a bunch of harpies for a moderate amount of damage.
   2. Salris knocks back a Healing Potion to attack a harpy that had Fairy Fire, killing it. Then he moves to flank the one next to Ryltar.
   3. #5 Harpies attack Tula, who is down, knocking her down to one death save. Then Tula dies.
   4. Bugfood hits the harpy that just killed Tula with Thunder, dealing 14 lightning to four harpies.
   5. Jerry moves to the other side of a harpy from Vurguron, misses her first attack, then hits the harpy for 22.
   6. #2 harpies make 6 attacks against Vurguron, none of which hit.
   7. Vurguron attacks the same one that Jerry had hit.
   8. #4 harpies advance, attacking Salris four times for 5.
4. Round 4. Jerry kills three harpies. Vurguron kills one before being downed by harpies.
   1. Ryltar casts Slow on the five harpies within range, for -2 AC, -2 on dex saves, half movement, only one attack, only action or bonus action, and just three get hit.
   2. Salris casts Shatter on the approaching harpies, for 9 damage to three and 18 to one.
   3. More harpies attack Salris; he's surrounded by 5.
   4. Bugfood drops Call Lightning on Salris, trying to kill the five harpies around him. Salris passes, taking 9, and three harpies pass. Salris is down, and then he gets hit with Balm of the Summer Court.
   5. Jerry kills another three harpies.
   6. Two harpies advance on Jerry, flanking her, and make two attacks for 11.
   7. Vurguron flanks one of the harpies attacking Jerry and kills it. Then he flanks the other one.
   8. More harpies appear, flanking Vurguron for many hits, bringing him down, but he does use his spiked shield on reaction to deal two.
   9. #4 harpies attack Jerry twice for 7
5. Round 5. Vurguron is downed and dies. Jerry is almost downed, then downed for real. Ryltar is downed. Bugfood has a realization.
   1. Ryltar tries to Slow six harpies, and succeeds.
   2. Salris Shatters four harpies, dealing 8 to one and 4 to three. And then he Hexblade's Curses the other.
   3. #5 Harpies move, and one attacks Jerry twice for 10.
   4. Bugfood notices that all of the harpies are coming from the red star, and that none of the harpies are talking to him. He says, loudly, "weird, strange" and then Thunder strikes three for 15 bringing them to half.
   5. Jerry notices that these harpies are a little harder to kill, they're making stronger attacks, and they're not singing. She starts singing, and makes attacks on one harpy, but fails twice.
   6. #2 harpies advance, making four attacks on Salris, and two on Jerry. Salris takes 15 damage; Jerry takes 23 and is down, save for Relentless Endurance.
   7. Vurguron passes a death save.
   8. Vurguron is attacked, and dies. Jerry is knocked to zero and loses two death saves.
   9. Ryltar pops Shield, but takes a lot of damage and is downed. He fails Strength of the Grave and remains down.
6. Round 6. Ryltar dies. Jerry dies. Salris dies. Bugfood flees as a jaguar.
   1. Ryltar's slow fades, and he passes his first death save.
   2. Salris fires two Eldritch Blasts at the harpy he had cursed, gaining 10 HP from its death. He makes to run around the ring of trees to Bugfood, and takes several attacks of opportunity but remains alive.
   3. One harpy attack fails to pierce Ryltar's Mage Armor, and the next kills him. The corresponding attacks don't kill Jerry.
   4. Bugfood sees that, as more harpies go down, they get stronger. Fear is growing. Bugfood runs away, then uses Wild Shape in the form of a panther, since it's the fastest, and runs away further, in the direction of Sky Diamond.
   5. Jerry passes a death save.
   6. Ryltar dies.
   7. Jerry dies.
   8. Lots of harpies surround Salris. He dies under a pile of beating wings.
7. Round 7.
   1. Bugfood runs, and continues to run.

The harpies have a fly speed of 50, and Bugfood has a run speed of 50. Yet the harpies are catching up, and catching up. And Bugfood hears a snap of fingers.

Ryltar shakes Bugfood's shoulder, waking him up. Ryltar asks him why he's shaking. "Well, you're not going to believe this, but you're supposed to be dead. Really, we're all supposed to be dead. I'll tell you about it in the morning."

"We're about to do a watch."

"I had this strange dream where we were all killed by harpies. Basically, star bad, harpies come from star."

Bugfood spends the watch rambling, dissociating between the dream and reality, and that distracts us from the watch. They don't see the star that night.

Day 2

We wake up. Ryltar tells us that Bugfood had a weird dream. Bugfood says he could stop talking about it but won't, because he thinks it's important. "We all died, but I died last. Harpies are bad. I don't know how to describe it. It's like you were there, really." Tula's still sleeping. He pokes her sleeping body, whispering, "You got eviscerated."

We continue south towards the academy. Bugfood uses Animal Friendship on his horse. The horse doesn't talk to him.

Jerry takes the lead. It's light weather, but overcast, like a storm will come in later.

Ryltar plays "I Spy".

Bugfood makes two more concentrations for healing potions.

Bugfood plays the Dwarven game called twenty questions, which is how we determine that stars are bugs. Every time he starts, we immediately guess it.

We come to a rest. We're a day's travel to the edge of wooded areas, camping around a watch fire in the middle of the plains.

Salris spends his watch thinking about the curse on his armor. He hears a voice. "So how much would you take to kill the other one?" Something points to the other tiefling.

"What do you mean?" he asks the being behind him.

"Would you kill him?"

"I wouldn't kill him."

"Why?"

"He's blissfully dumb. Ignorant." He turns to look at his father, who looks like he looked the morning of the day he died, without the poison tendrils on his face. "What do you want."

"Why?" asks his father, the subtext making clear that this is a question of why Salris killed him. "All I have done to you is prepare you for the world."

"Yelling, beating. You abused me growing up."

"The world is incredibly cruel. I hoped to prepare you for that."

"These people treat me pretty well. The elf can be a little rude sometimes, but they're nice. It's refreshing."

"Thalia was nice to you, and still you killed her."

"I had to. It was a necessary evil."

"You murdered your own dad, who was just trying to protect you."

"Mom did a better job of that than you did."

"I left her out of it."

"Whaddya got for me?"

"Some say it is a curse. Some say it is a blessing."

"Well I already got a curse."

"You are bound to her. I would have thought by now that you would have seen some visions of her."

"All I got is stone, and this." He snaps, summoning his pact khopesh.

"A khopesh. Hm."

"Good for torturing. It nestles nicely against the neck, and if they resist, it's easy to take their head off."

"And all this because someone offered you money."

"You were worth the money."

"Your brother had more potential."

"And what happened to him?" asks Salris, idly.

"What happened to your brother," demands his father. Black smoke starts to pour from his mouth.

"He died when you did."

"He was alive when I died."

"You went to sleep."

"You came into my room, and left."

"He woke up," says Salris, revealing that he was jerking his father's chain, "ignorant of what happened. His parents murdered, his younger brother gone. Presumably kidnapped. I didn't touch him."

His father slashes him, dealing 19 necrotic damage. Salris grunts loudly, hoping to wake the others. And indeed, they are half awakened.

1. Round 1.
   1. Salris deals 29 damage to his father with his khopesh.
   2. His father frightens him.
   3. Jerry, Bugfood, and everyone else wakes.
2. Round 2.
   1. Salris, with disadvantage on attacks against his father, hits on both attacks, for another 29 slashing.
   2. Jerry sees Salris feverishly slashing his weapon in the air at nothing. She asks Salris what he sees. He says, "right in front of me," so she slashes there.
   3. The spectre of Salris' father moves into Salris' space, grabs his hand, and the blade almost blinks out. And then the spectre moves through Salris, and attacks, for 20 necrotic. He looks manic, afraid, exhausted.
   4. Bugfood stands, and Fairy Fires right on the middle of Salris. Everyone except the spectre lights up. It's a free action to cancel the spell; so Bugfood does and then Balm of the Summer Courts him for 3 hp and 2 temporary hp
   5. Vurguron doesn't gain any insight into the situation. He stares at what's happening in confusion, walks over to Salris, puts a hand on his spiky shoulder, and says, "There's nothing there."
   6. Ryltar still doesn't see anything. "What is it, Salris?"
   7. Tula stands, and makes an insight check. "Something is up. Something is here." she says.
3. Round 3.
   1. Salris turns towards the spectre, not moving towards it, and then swings at it twice. He hits twice, for 21 damage, fails a wisdom save, and then drinks a healing potion. His religion check to see what should be doing damage to his father, and his weapon should be.
   2. Jerry didn't see the cuts connect. Jerry asks where it is now, and Salris says in front of him. Jerry moves next to him, and makes two cuts, dealing 11 damage though she does not see them. But Salris sees the hits connect.
   3. The father fades from this world slightly, once more steps into his square, sliding his hands up Salris' arm to monetarily dissipate the blade, and then moves through him.
   4. Bugfood tries to Fairy Fire again, but doesn't trip on the father.
   5. Vurguron still asks him if he's okay. He saw Salris take damage, but didn't see what did it. He stands in front of Salris and smashes his sword on his shield.
   6. Tula pops Divine Sense and locates the undead, walking towards it.
4. Round 4.
   1. Salris turns to face his father, and attacks it twice. His father says, "You're not worthy of this. She needs to be contained. You murdered them." Salris is no longer frightened.
   2. Jerry moves next to Salris. Her first attack slices straight through him but doesn't connect; she pops Ensnaring Strike and slices again, and still misses.
   3. The father slashes him, and then steps into his place.
   4. Bugfood casts Balm of the Summer Court for 8 HP plus 2 temporary HP, and tries Fairy Fire again.
   5. Vurguron turns and pats Salris on the shoulder, saying, "Don't worry, you'll get through this."
   6. Ryltar warms his hands by the fire.
   7. Tula says the undead is inside Salris, and can't really do anything for it. She holds her action.
5. Round 5.
   1. Salris Thunder Steps away; dealing 21 damage to those who fail the constitution check. And then he's 90 feet away.
   2. Tula uses her held action to attack the undead, using Divine Smite to deal 4d8 + 2d6 + 5 = 26 damage to the spectre.
   3. Jerry asks Tula if it's still there. She doesn't sense it any more. Jerry attacks the space as well. Her Ensnaring Strike trips, and the vines try to connect with something, but they don't grab on.

Salris collapses.

"Are you okay?" asks Ryltar. Salris holds up a hand, and then Thunder Steps to next to the fire. "I'm gonna sleep here for a bit," he says. Tula continues the watch with a natural 20

Jerry also has a natural 20. It's a clear night.

Ryltar's watch is quiet, as are Ryltar and Bugfood's joint watch. Salris wakes up in the last hour, and spends it staring over Ryltar's shoulder. "Are you okay?" asks Ryltar. Salris says nothing. Ryltar casts Darkness on Salris, to hide him. Out of sight, out of mind.

Day 3

We wake up.

It is the third day of the first week of Mirtul.

Loot

We're two days into a nine-day trip.

Notes: Tula and Vurguron can tank.

• Salris gets a suit of +1 scale mail, learns Infernal, 1d8 on unarmed slashing attacks, and a curse that he can't remove it.