29/10/2024
26th Day of May 1492
Weather: Clear.
High Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius.
Low Temperature: 9 degrees Celsius.
Mission: Find the Hart of the Forest
Campaign: Forest of Wyrms
Location(s): Forest of Wyrms, Sacred Glade.
Present: Zinalla, Seraphina, Brielle, Elysande, Glepper, T'or &Thaumat.
Beginning of Session: Healing and Dividing Barlyn's Kit
The party gathers in a secluded clearing in the forest, the tension from their recent skirmish still lingering in the air. The sun filters through the trees, casting dappled light on the adventurers as they begin to take stock of their resources.
Elysande gently places his hand on Barlyn's travel kit, his eyes reflecting a deep sense of loss. "We should divide this up," he suggests, his voice soft yet resolute. "Barlyn would have wanted us to be prepared."
T'or agrees, nodding solemnly. "We need to keep moving and be ready for whatever this cursed forest throws at us," he adds. With that, the group begins to sort through the items, distributing potions, herbs, and enchanted trinkets amongst themselves. Glepper tries on a ring from the kit, grinning mischievously.
Glepper: "Ha! This must make me look dashing, right?" The group chuckles despite the heavy mood, easing some of the tension.
Discovery by the Pond
Elysande and T'or move cautiously toward the pond area, noticing something strange. The water, once crystal clear, has a dark, swirling undercurrent, and eerie pink trees frame the edge of the pool, their unnatural hue making the hair on their necks stand on end.
Elysande squints, trying to make sense of it. "T'or, do you see that?" he whispers.
T'or grips his weapon tightly. "Yeah," he mutters. "Something’s not right."
Just then, a voice breaks the stillness, low and composed, but with an edge of urgency.
Stranger: "Greetings, I am Thaumat the Black. I am a friend and servant of the forest." A figure clad in leather and a flowing cloak steps from the shadows of the woods. Her eyes, as dark as the night sky, hold an air of calm power. "There is a dark presence in the forest I was unable to destroy," she explains. "I mean you no harm."
Glepper, ever the skeptic, raises an eyebrow. "Tree hugger!" he calls out, drawing snickers from the group.
Thaumat doesn’t even flinch. "I can change into a wolf, a spider, a bird, a snake, an insect, or even a mouse," she continues, trying to convey her usefulness.
Glepper: "Tree hugger. Told you so," he mutters again, earning a few more chuckles.
The Corrupted Pool and the Request for Purification
Zinnalla approaches the pool, frowning at the corrupted water. "Can anybody purify this pool?" he asks, his voice tinged with worry. "Has anybody got a purification spell?"
Glepper jumps forward, full of bravado. "Abracadabra, Alakazam! Turn this water—" He pauses, looking at the still-dark water. "Nope. Nothing happened!" The group exchanges disappointed glances.
No one has a purification spell. Thaumat looks downcast. "The Hart of the Forest sent me for herbs," she explains, "but I found a malevolent spirit instead. To free the Hart, we will need keys."
Encounter with the Pink Trees
Three unnatural-looking pink trees stand ominously by the pool. Elysande, unable to contain his suspicion, attacks one of the trees, his blade slicing into the bark. Suddenly, something emerges from behind the tree—a shadowy, grotesque figure.
Zinnalla steps forward, his voice steady but growing desperate. "Can anybody set fire to the tree?" Silence answers him, broken only by the rustle of the forest.
The figure turns to face Zinnalla, revealing a horrifying visage. He is instantly frozen with fear, dropping his sword as he clutches his head in pain.
Glepper shouts, "Should have run away!" just as Seraphina arrives, seeing the terrifying apparition. "What the fudge!" she exclaims, only to become frozen with fear as well.
The Fight Against the Banshee
Brielle steps forward, attempting a spell, but her hands tremble and she misses. Thaumat moves to protect Elysande, while T'or shouts, "Somebody burn the mother f...er!" and hurls a javelin. The weapon finds its mark, piercing the creature.
The figure opens its mouth and lets out a bone-chilling screech.
- Elysande collapses, unconscious, near death.
- Zinnalla drops his sword, writhing in pain.
- Glepper, Seraphina, Brielle, and Thaumat all drop their weapons, the creature's scream reverberating in their bones.
T'or, somehow resisting the banshee's aura, stands his ground. "Stay with me!" he roars, trying to rally his companions. Elysande, using what strength he has left, performs a healing action to get back in the fight. Zinnalla attempts to channel divinity to turn the unholy creature but fails.
A Desperate Struggle
- Glepper, miraculously succeeds to move, retrieves his dagger and attacks.
- Seraphina, succeeding as well, steadies herself and reclaims her sword.
- Brielle casts a spell, but it has no effect on the banshee.
- Thaumat, still trying to help, casts Cure Wounds.
T'or, in a fit of rage, swings his maul but misses. Elysande manages to gulp down a healing potion, while Zinnalla struggles to overcome his fear, failing again. Glepper finally lands a hit and shouts, "Disengage!"
Seraphina makes an attempt but misses. As she is partially incapacitated, she starts to lose hope. Brielle tries another spell, but her turn undead fails again. Thaumat, now in wolf form, tries to fight but is cowering under the banshee’s power.
Turning the Tide
T'or charges the banshee, his maul connecting with bone-crushing force. Elysande, still trapped in the bushes, fights desperately to free himself, shouting, "I killed the bush!" when he finally succeeds.
Glepper, now filled with determination, attacks again and finally delivers the killing blow to the banshee. The spectral creature wails one last time before dissipating.
Seraphina immediately rushes to Glepper, offering him a healing potion. Glepper, exhausted but triumphant, sighs, "Light—I see the light."
Elysande joins them, shaking his head with a tired smile. "That was... too close," he says, relief washing over him.
The forest, for the first time in a long while, seems to breathe a little easier. But the shadows still linger, and the Hart of the Forest remains in need of saving.
